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91 SHERMAN ST., SPRINOFIEXD, MASS. 

STAB PUBLISHING COMPANY. 



1 ' HISTORY j 

OF THE | 

NEW ENGLAND SPIRITUALIST 

CAMPIEETIKfi ASSOCIATION 

AT 

LAKE PLEASANT, MASS. 

BY 

H. A. B8DIN6T0N. 



PRlCi, 30 CE*T». POSTAGE 3 CENT*. 

COPYRIGHTED 1007 BY THE BTAR PUBLISHING COMPANY- 



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5.U5«i*RYtf CONGRESS } 
~ 5W6 Gsplas Received j 

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1 CU33 A XXC, No, 

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Lake Pleasant. 

Lake Pleasant is located in the town of Monta- 
gue, Mass. about seven miles east of Greenfield and 
nearly ninety three miles west of Boston. It is 
reached by the Fitchburg division of the Boston & 
Maine Railroad. 



OF THE 

NEW ENGLAND SPIRITUALISTS' CAMP- 
MEETING ASSOCIATION 

AT 

LAKE PLEASANT, MASS. 

In 1870, George W. Potter of Greenfield, 
Mass., bought a piece of land at Lake Pleasant, a 
part of which was located where the Old Grove now 
is. Having cleared a small part of the flat and put 
in a few benches, he invited some fifty of the old 
people of Greenfield to make up a pic-nic party 
for the Lake. 

He also invited the editor of the Franklin County 
Times to attend and report the outing in his paper. 

Thus was Lake Pleasant opened to the public. 

During the next four years, great political and 
temperance conventions and Fourth of July celebra- 
tions were held there. General Butler, Senator 
Henry Wilson and other eminent men were heard 
by many thousands of people at Lake Pleasant in 
those early years. 

In 1872 Mr. Potter sold his interest 
in the land to the Fitchburg Rail Road Com- 
pany. This Company built the dancing Pavilion, the 
band stand, the old rostrum; added more benches 
and placed a number of tables with seats for pic-nic 



parties, on the side hill, north of the Auditorium. 
This Company also built the present depot and two 
pairs of stairs, one where the present stairs are, and 
a veiy wide pair leading up from the rail road 
track to the Pavilion. 

Wells were driven in several parts of the grove, 
but noneprovedof special merit except Jacob's Well, 
so properly named b}* Lizzie Lincoln. Having so 
well prepared the grove for a summer resort, the 
Rail Road Company advertised Lake Pleasant ex- 
tensively and brought the superb Fitchburg Band 
with crowds of pleasure seekera to the Lake. For 
the next two years Lake Pleasant was the center of 
attaction up and down the Connecticut valle}' for 
Sabbath school pic-nics, Masonic and Odd Fellows 
outings, Grange parties, village street gatherings 
and the conventions before mentioned. 

How the Spiritualist Ciimpmeeting at Jliake 

Pleasant began. 
In June, 1874, on the return of H. A. Budington 
by train from Orange, as it stopped at Lake Pleas- 
ant, J. J. Richardson, the Greenfield caterer, who 
had an ice cream and refreshment booth at the Lake 
for pic-nic parties, came aboard the cars. On tak- 
ing a seat beside Mr. Budington, he began conver- 
sation in which he said it would be a good place at 
Lake Pleasant for a Spiritualist Campmeeting. 

They talked the matter over till the} T reached 
Greenfield. The next morning Mr. Budington called 
on Dr. Joseph Beals of Greenfield and related the 
conversation of the previous evening. Dr. Beals 
heartily endorsed the project. 

The next day Mr, Budington went to Springfield 



. 3 

and informed^Harvey Lyman of that city, what had 
been proposed. (He had been looking for a couple of 
years for a location in the Connecticut valley for a 
Spiritualist Campmeeting.) Mr. Lyman advised 
that the matter should be presented to the Free Re- 
ligious Society of that city, the following Sunday. 
Mr. Budington made a short address, explaining 
the situation. It was decided to have a basket 
pic-nic at Lake Pleasant and "spy out the land.'' 

In a few days the pic-nic party, made up of Har- 
vey Lyman and wife, Mrs. F. C. Coburn, Mrs. Mor- 
rill, Henry Smith, Mary Dickinson, John H. Smith 
and wife, all of Springfield, Mr. Barry of North 
Wilbraham, Mr. Peck of Charlemont,R. H. Minotof 
Northfield, Dr. Joseph Beals, J. W. Miller, W. C. 
Bryant and H. A.Budington, visited Lake Pleasant. 
Sitting in the old Auditorium, where great celebra- 
tions had been held, the party met Mr. Comee, as 
sistant Superintendent of the Fitchburg Rail Road 
and for three hours or more, talked plans. 

Not having time to conclude the conversation, 
the party adjourned to Mr. Budington's editorial 
office in Greenfield, where a temporary organization 
was completed and a vote taken to hold a Camp- 
meeting in August. Dr. Reals was nominated for 
president and was elected: Harvey Lyman was 
made treasurer and committee on tents and grounds: 
Henry Smith, clerk: Dr. Beals, Mrs. Coburn and 
Mr. Budington, committee on music. Mr. Buding- 
ton was made the committee on printing and adver- 
tising also chairman of committee for speakers. 



4 

Mr. Budington wrote the call for the Campmeet- 
ing and published it in his Franklin County Times', 
the call and signatures of subscribers filling two col- 
umns of the paper. There was a little over a 
month for preparation. 

One hundred tents were hired of Gardner and Rich- 
ardson of Boston; of which seventy five were used. 
These tents lined Lyman and Broadway streets, a 
few being pitched on the Bluff and Montague street. 
There were no streets so named the first year, but 
paths were found along the locations of the above 
named streets. The tents were pitched wherever a 
place was found between the trees. The pine trees 
on Lyman street were twelve to fifteen feet high in 
1874. Headquarters the first year were in a tall 
bell tent, located on lot now occupied by the Doug- 
lass family. 

Mrs. Lizzie Lincoln of Boston was written to, and 
her energetic action resulted in bringing a large 
delegation from that city. 

The first Campmeeting was a success. All expen- 
ses were paid. John Collier, jnst over from Eng- 
land, made the dedicatory address and pronounced 
an excellent original poem in honor of the Camp. 

The spirit world, a few months before, had sug- 
gested that such a project ought to be started in the 
Connecticut valley, but to J. J. Richardson, now as- 
cended to the higher life, should be given tbe credit 
of first proposing that Spiritualists should hold a 
Campmeeting at Lake Pleasant. 

At the first Campmeeting, and for several 3'ears 
following, the Fitchburg Railroad Company paid 



one half of the wages of the Fitchburg Band, con- 
sisting of twenty four accomplished musicians, led 
by that master artist, Mr. Russell of Fitchburg. The 
Campmeeting paid the other half ( the wages were 
three dollars a day) and boarded and lodged the 
Band. 

The dining rooms were two large tents, run by 
Mr. Duncklee of New Hampshire. The tents stood 
where the Hotel office and the Annex are now, ex- 
tending from Broadway to Montague street. 

Campers cooked under the pine trees, several 
families in some instances using one cook stove. 

The trees were ornamented with dippers, kettles 
teapots, towels and dish cloths. The bedticks were 
filled with straw, some placing them on the ground, 
others upon rude bedsteads made of pine boards. 

The novelty was so great that hundreds of people 
from the surrounding towns came to see "those 
queer people;" often opening the tent flaps and 
peering in without invitation. 

Street speaking was frequent; many of the speak- 
ers and mediums holding forth in front of their 
tents to a gaping and astonished crowd. The en- 
thusiasm was catching and the grove resounded 
with harangues. Twice a day the Fitchburg Band 
gave open air concerts. ^Dances, were enjoyed each 
week afternoon and evening by both young and old 
people. (No dancing has ever been permitted on 
Sundays, notwithstanding statements to the contrary 
have been made by prejudiced people.) 

One orthodox woman in Montague was greatly 
shocked when she heard there was to be a Spiritual- 



6 

ist Campmeeting at Lake Pleasant ! She said, "It is 
perfectly dreadful — them wicked Spiritoolists are 
cornin to Lake Pleasant ! They will fiddle and 
dance and the Devil will chuckle ! What will be- 
come of our young women? They will all be led 
away from our church and lose their souls !" 

Before the meeting was over, that same orthodox 
woman was seen, in the evening, peeking through 
the lattice work of the dancing Pavilion, and evi 
dently enjoying the ; dance. 

Charley Sullivan, the actor, made ''kitchen square"' 
on the Bluff a center of attraction to all the house 
keeping women, when he donned Irish feminine garb 
and idiom, and transformed himself into an Irish 
washerwoman so completely that even Lizzie Lin- 
coln did not know him as he scrubbed at the wash- 
tub. 

Among the speakers at the first Campmeeting 
were' Sarah Byrnes and Dr. Storer. 

The credit of having the most handsomely fur- 
nished tent belonged to J. Frank Baxter, who for sev- 
eral years made his tent into a beautiful drawing 
loom, with flowers, flags and drapery. 

Fortunately no rain fell during the first Camp- 
meeting, so living in the woods was a charming ex- 
perience. 

From the Gazette and Courier, Greenfield, Mass, 
•I une 10, 1874. "The Spiritualists have arranged for 
a two weeks' Campmeeting at Lake Pleasant, com. 
mencing August 18." From the s^ame paper Aug 10. 
'•This week, Thursday begins the Spiritualist Camp- 
meeting at Lake Pleasant. The managers have se- 
cured a number of speakers who will give lectures 



7 
ia the forenoons of each week day and on Sundays 
in the forenoon and afternoon. 

The lectures will beg-in a c 10.30 A. M and 2.30 
P. M. on the two Sundays, A grocery and provis- 
ion store will be opened on the grounds, where those 
who want to board themselves can procure all kinds 
of fruits, vegetables, dried and canned meats, white 
and brown bread and all kinds of groceries needed 
for housekeeping. A butcher has been engaged to 
furnish fresh and salted meats, poultry &c. all that 
will be needed. 

There will also be two large boarding tents of 
sufficient capacity to accommodate all. The price 
of board will be one dollar a day or six dollars a 
week. Private tents will be erected and rented from 
four to seven dollars for two weeks. 

The grounds will be dedicated on Friday, Au- 
gust 14, by an address by John Collier of England. 

The Fitch burg band will be present at the dedi- 
catory exercises and remain on the grounds for ten 
days. A choir of singers will also be organized 
and furnish vocal music. 

There will be two addresses on the Sunday of 
August 16. Mrs. Nellie J;. Temple Brigham of Elm 
Grove will speak Sunday morning the 16th and Dr. 
H. P. Fairfield in the afternoon. Maud E. Lord of 
Boston will be present several days and give public 
seances for physical manifestations. 

During the week days there will be opportunities 
for dancing in the afternoon and evening. 

Excursions can be taken to Mount Tobey, which 
is but five miles distant; and under the improvemenis 



8 
of Rector L. Goss, has become a charming spot, easy 
of access. A force of state police will be on the 
ground, but it is hoped little will be required of 
them. All the rail roads will carry passengers at 
half fare, and will transport the baggage and furni- 
ture of the campers, free. 

Parties calling for Campmeeting tickets for Lake 
Pleasant will receive a return ticket. The Spring- 
field, Athol and North Eastern Rail Road will reduce 
fares one half. There will be three extra trains to 
Campground from Athol and way stations during 
the secon d week, the time for which will be given 
in rail road posters. Extra Sunday trains will run 
from Springfield, Hoosac Tunnel, Brattleboro and 
Fitchburg. Lake Pleasant grove is dry and 
healthily and free from malaria." 

From same paper August 81, 1874 — "The Spirit- 
ualist Campmeeting at Lake Pleasant broke up 
Thursday; though many of the tents were struck 
the day before. Before the close, the Assembly or- 
ganized itself into the Spiritualist and Liberal- 
ist Campmeeting Association of Massachu- 
setts; with these officers: President, Joseph Beals; 
Vice Presidents, E. W. Dickinson of Springfield; H. 
S. Williams of Boston; Dr. Brigham of Fitchburg; 
Mr. Hapgood of Lowell, W. W. Currier of Haver- 
hill: Corresponding Secretary, Henry Smith of 
Springfield; Recording Secretary, Oliver Proctor 
of Townsend; Treasurer, Harvey Lyman of Spring- 
field. Executive Committee, George Hosmer of 
Boston, H. A. Budington and Mrs. E. P. Morrill of 
Springfield, W, A. Gilmore of Chicopee. 





"it- r 


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*?s* 1 



J. .7. RICKAr.DSON. 




HENRY A. BUDINGTON. 




JOSEPH SEALS. 




R. F. CHURCHILL. 



9 

The following report of an address by Rev. B. F. 
Underwood of Chicopee, reported by one of the offi- 
cers of the Association, will give our readers an idea 
of the views and spirit that prevailed at that gather- 
ing. The reporter said it was cheered by the audi- 
ence ! 

'Rev. B. F. Underwood gave an exceedingly plain 
and well-arranged address, treating the subject of 
religious belief as a matter to be subjected to the 
human reason. Among the points made were the 
the following — there is no personal God — that eve- 
ry one makes his own God — that an honest God is 
the noblest work of man — every attribute of God is 
but the reflection of our own minds — that God is 
merely the name for the unknown and unknowable. 

It is that power which 

Warms in the sun; refreshes in the breeze, 
Glows in the stars and blossoms in the trees. 
> He said the world was never made of nothing — 
matter never had a beginning and will never have 
an end — that there was no necessity for creation for 
everything exists by its own inherent force and at- 
tributes — that there is nothing in the universe but 
material substances. If there is a spirit, it is also 
matter — nature's laws are inexorable — there is no 
personal intervention to suspend the laws of nature 
and there never was. 

The lightning of the supposed God strikes the 
church and its members as readily as the sinner. 

He said the idea was absurd, to make a solid fir- 
mament on the second day and light the first day, 
when the sun and moon were not made until the 
fourth day; and to have trees and plants growing 



10 
before there was a sun to shine on them and make 
them grow. 

Every school boy knows there was no such fir- 
mament as was described in the Bible, and hence 
God must have wasted the second day. The world 
was never created, but was evolved out of a nebu- 
lous mass. Man was originally a savage, and lived 
in caves; he had improved himself and fallen up in- 
stead of down. 

The marriage relation was never instituted by God, 
but was the outgrowth of man's civilization. All 
barbarous nations capture their wives from foreign 
tribes. Cultured man had instituted the rite of 
marriage with its beautiful homes: Government comes 
also by man's progress — there was no salvation by 
the sufferings of the good man, Jesus, but by each 
man's own acts. 

The orthodox scheme of salvation by atonement, 
was a bankrupt scheme — Jesus Christ was no more 
a, saviour of man than was Thomas Paine or Voltaire 
or any other man who has tried to benefit mankind: 
no man should be condemned for his opinions — hon- 
est error does not imply moral criminality — the false 
statement that he that believeth not shall be damned, 
lias lighted the fires of Smithfield, has shed the blood 
of St. Bartholomew's day, has massacred thousands 
in India, has driven the Puritans to America, hung 
Quakers and banished Baptists. 

He would substitute for orthodox churches and 
their hollow worship, intellectual culture — build 
schools and temples of learning — exalt and glorify 
man instead of praising God — he used the Bible as 
he did other books and criticised it freely — he did 



11 

not believe the whale story nor' that of Lot's wife, 
nor that the serpent cheated Eve, nor that the sun 
stood still by the com. maud of God, that one barba- 
rous nation might cut the throats of another. 

The Bible did not give woman her true place — 
it made her a satellite to man while she should be 
his equal — the Bible could not be from God, for if 
it was, it would be in such plain language that all 
would understand and there would not be three 
hundred sects of Christians, all jealous of each oth- 
er — he did not know if there be another life, but if 
there was, the best wa} _ to prepare for it was to do 
good and live uprightly in this life — man did not 
sin through Adam, but by himself-he thought works 
were better than prayer and good deeds should take 
the place of addresses to a supposed Deity— he would 
substitute modern science for Bible fables.' " 
THE IS EXT FOUR YEARS. 

Harvey Lyman was made chairman of committee 
on laying out the grounds the second year. He 
plotted for tents only. Hence when people began 
to build cottages, the lots proved to be too small, 
and the crowded condition of the original grove is 
the result of the mistake he made. 

All the land between Lyman street and Broad- 
way and the old Auditorium was originally laid out 
for a park. There were to be no houses or tents on 
the east side of these streets; but Mr. Lyman yielded 
to the pleas of some campers to put tents temporarily 
on the east side, and once on the park they remained 
and the park was lost. 

For a few years the Campmeeting was not legally 
incorporated, and the informal officers obtained 



12 
yearly permission of the Fitchburg Rail Road Com- 
pany, which held a lease from the Vermont and 
Massachusetts Rail Road Company, to hold meet- 
ings in August. 

In 1879 the campers at Lake Pleasant formed an 
organization and became incorporated' under the 
name of the New England Spiritualist ' Campmeet- 
ing Association; as follows; — 

ORIGINAL AGREEMENT. 

"We, whose names are hereunto subscribed, do by 
this agreement associate ourselves with the inten- 
tion to constitute a corporation according to the pro- 
visions of the three hundred and seventy fifth chap- 
ter of the General Court of the Commonwealth of 
Massachusetts, passed in the year 1874, approved 
June 27th in said year, and the acts in amendment 
thereof and in addition thereto. 

The name by which the Corporation shall be 
known, shall be the New England Spiritualist Camp- 
meeting Association. 

The purpose for which the Corporation is con- 
stituted, is to provide and maintain a place or places 
for holding camp, grove and other meetings of a so- 
cial, educational and religious character; to receive 
money, lands and property of any description 
to be used for purchasing and maintaining grounds, 
buildings or any other property that may be needed 
for the use of the Association. 

The place within which the Corporation is estab- 
lished or located is in the town of Montague, within 
said Commonwealth. 

In witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands 



13 

this ninth day of January in the year 1879! 
Joseph Beals, Greenfield, Massachusetts. 
W. C. Bryant, 

C. L. Butler, 
Sumner Chapman, 
L. H. Stone, 

L.W. Rice, " " '■. .! 

J. A. Dakin, *■■ 

H. H. Park, 

By Laws adopted January 6, 1879. 
All persons in sympathy with this Association 
and desiring 'to promote its objects, may become 
members by signing or authorizing their names signed 
to the By Laws, and paying one dollar annually, 
previous to or at the opening of the annual meeting 
of the Association. 

Art. 2 The officers of the Association shall con- 
sist of a President, three Vice Presidents, a Clerk, a 
Treasurer and eight Directors ; said officers shall be 
chosen at the annual meeting of the Association, by 
ballot, to serve one year from the first day of Janu- 
ary next following said meeting, and a majority of 
the votes cast shall be necessary for a choice. 

The President shall be chosen by the Directors, 
from their board. 

Art. 3 — The annual business meeting of the Asso- 
ciation shall be held on the third Monday of Au- 
gust, at the time and place of holding the usual 
Campmeeting. Special meetings may be called at 
any time by the Directors, and shall be called when- 
ever requested in writing by ten members of the 
Association. 



14 

Art. 4.— All meetings shall be called by the Clerk 
upon the written warrant of the Directors, and notice 
of time, place and purpose of each meeting shall be 
given in such manner as the Directors shall pre- 
scribe in their warrant for such meeting. 

Art. 5 — These By-Laws may be altered or amended 
only at annual meetings~of the Association, provided 
that the amendment be submitted in writing and 
two thirds of the members present are in favor of the 
same. 

Under these By-Laws, the following Directors 
and officers were then elected. 

Directors, Joseph Beals, W. C. Bryant, C. L. 
Butler, Sumner Chapman, L. H. Stone, J. A. Dakin, 
H. H. Park, L. W. Rice, all of Greenfield, Mass. 

Vice Presidents, M. V. Lincoln, E. W. Dickinson, 
Mrs. Harvey Lyman: Treasurer, W. C. Bryant: 
Clerk, L. W. Rice. 

In conformity with the statutes of Massachusetts, 
the foregoing members completed the organiza- 
tion and received a charter from the Governor of 
Massachusetts, signed by Henry B. Pierce, Secretary 
of the Commonwealth. 

LIST OF MEMBERS. 
Joseph Beals; Greenfield Mass. 
Joseph H. Beals 

William C. Bryant " ■ ; ': 

Joseph W. Miller 
Sumner. Chapman 
L.H. Stone 
L. D. Graves 
John C. Thompson " 



15 

A. Bullens Chicopee 
Mrs. A. Bullens 

W. H. Gilmore 
Mrs. W. H. Gilmore " 
Mrs. M. E. White 
Mrs. C. A, Bullens 
John S. Hart Springfield, 
Mrs. John S. Hart 
Moses W. Lyman 
T. W. Coburn 
Mrs. F..A Cook 
Mrs A H. Coburn 
S. S . Leonard 
Henry A. Budington 
George Lyman 
John W. Lyman 
F. G. Coburn 
Mrs. L. P. M. Smith " 
Mrs. Jennie Warner 
Sophia S. Billings 
Mrs. H. M. Packard 
E. M. Lyman 
Frank H. Warner 

B. M. Budington 
Dr. W. A. Towne 
John H. Smith 
Mrs. E. P. Morrill 
E. W. Dickinson 

M. H. Fletcher Westford, 
David B. Gerry Sloneham 
W. F. D. Perkins Boston, 
Jeuny Rhind 
Moses Hunt 
Mary D. Stearns 



16 
Mrs. Geo. W. Barnes 
Mrs. M- F. Starbird 
Mary A. Lincoln 
M. V. Lincoln 
Mrs. M. V. Lincoln 
Mrs. Nellie Nelson 
Mrs. E. L. Sanford . 
Mrs. A. M. Goodwin 
Mrs. G. F . Fairbanks 
Mrs. E. G. Severance 
Mrs. A. E. Fletcher 
Mrs. Sarah Stone 
Mrs. A. A. Jackson 
Dr. C. C. York 
C. G. Bird 
Mrs. C. G. Bird 
J. J. Gurney 
Mrs. Frank Pathlin 
George James 
Mrs. M. A. Charter 
Edward E. Conant 
Thomas A, Gardner 
E. P. Hood 
H. G. Hawkins 
Mrs. L. F Chickering 



New 
Walpole, 



Wales B. Eddy 
Henry B. Allen 
Sardis Chapman 
W. D, Prouty 
H. A. Abbott 
John A. Lowe 
George H. Wooster 
P. H. Babbitt 



Amherst, 

Southampton, 

Worcester, 



Bane, 



N. H. 



Mass.~ 



'**~ , 




I) . 

O. W. Grout Whately 

Sumner Smith 

Dr. W. F. Whitman Athol 
John Woodis^ 
Dr. B. D.Deak" 
George W Woodard 
A. G. Stratton 
J. W. Perry 

S. Carter Baldwinsville, " 

John Patterson 

R. H. Minot Northfield 

Abijah Fales East Templeton, 
T. T. Greenwood 
N. H. Searles 
P. L. Sargent 

Mrs. D. C. Wood North boro, 
L. Stevens Orange, 

P. L. Felton 
D. Edward Putnam 
George F. Bacon " 

Mrs. W. B. Austin " 

David Mayo North Orange, 
Dr. H. H. Brigham Fitchburg, 
Dr. S. C. Brigham 
Dr. B. Williams 
S. P. Burt Westfield, 

Dr. C. I. Weston 
F. F. Stedman Montague 

Isaac Chenery 
N. S. Henry 

H. M. Henry '' £ 

Harvey Lyman 
Mrs. Mary A. Lyman " 



' 18 

F. B. Williams 
Warren ( . Hunter 

Mrs. S. H. Amsden Millers Falls " j 

A. W. Caswell Gardner, . "■ 

T. S. Sherwin North Adams, " 

L. Sheldon " « 

William Hodgkins " *' 

Charles Brigham Clinton, " 

S. F. Dudley Shutesbury, " 

Sarah E. Stone, Everett, " 

Sidney Howe Marlboro, "■ 

Mary B. Hawks Turners Falls " j 

H. N. Smith Lake Pleasant, " 

George W. Fowler Lynn, '■' 

Mrs. George W. Fowler " '.* 

George Dillingham " " 

Hiram Holmes Cheshire, " 

H. C. Haskell Deerfield. 

M. E. Aspinwall South Hadley ' 

D. W. Fairchild Sunderland, " 
L. B. Cobb Cummington " 
L. P. Brogin Hinsdale, " 

E. J. Rounsville Chaiiestown " 
John B. Farnsworth Leominster, •" 
Henry Barber Warwick " 

Nathanel Holmes Riverside " 

A. F. Felton North Leverett 
A. T. Pierce^ • Providence, Pt. I. 
Mrs. S. F. Pierce " " . I 

E. W. Clark Nashua, New Hampshire. 

Mrs. J. Cook Concord, " 

P. P. Stark ey Ashuelot, 

Mrs. B. Brackett Colebrook, " 



West Peterboro " 

Utica, New York. 

New York, New York. 

u a 

Brooklyn " 



Vermont. 



19 
Justice Fisher 
W. B. Lard 
David Jones 
Mrs. H. N. Reed 
Henry J. Newton 
Dr. A. B. Smith 
Mrs. C. Smith 
Mrs. J. W. Stansbury " 
Dr. J. W. Stansbuiy '• 

W. H. Rynus 
Charles J. Warren " 

S" : B. Nichols " 

Fred Haslam " 

C. F. Taylor Scroon Lake 

Mrs. M. A. Adams Brattleboro, 
T. T. Stearns " " 

Frank Reed " « 

L. Putnam . " " 

Frank Crosier Reedsboro, " 

Jos. Bullock "■ " 

Dr. E. A. "Smith Brandon, " 

J. M. Weeks Rutland, 

Moses Goodwin Glover, " 

Mrs. C. Fowler Putnam, Connecticut. 
Mrs. S. W. Kingsley " 
Edward Lewin " " 

W. H. Letters 
Mrs. E. R. Davis 
E. B. Parsons West Winsted, „ 

Mrs. S..W. Lincoln Hartford, 

George Pasco " " 

Mas. L. L. Pasco 

Mrs. A. E. Reed 



Mrs. W. H. Dabin " " 

Mrs W. A Prior 

George W. Burnham Willimantic '' 

M. W. Comstock Niantic, Conn. 

James Wilson Bridgeport, " 

Charles Belnap ;1 " 

George Burlingame Somersville, u 
Dr. A. D. Ross Troy, New York. 

N. Reynolds 

Lewis Ranson " " 

E. F. Rogers 
Charles Kelsie 
Dr. Ira Davenport Buffalo 
; • EB Fisk 

Hattie C. Allen 

E E Wilson 

S E Dwight 

J H Lord 

E D Sisson 

Miss L E Johnson 

George Burt 

Mrs. W D Putney 

Mrs. Sitz Barney Sales 

Mrs. Carson. 

The first annual, meeting under the new 
charter of 1879 was held at Lake Pleasant, August, 
18, 1880. The members elected John H. Smith of 
Springfield, clerk; W C Bryant of Greenfield, ^Treas- 
urer: Directors, Joseph Beals; Harvey Lyman; M 
H Fletcher; John Hart; D B Gerry; A Bullens; 
W H Gilmore; W F ^D Perkins. Vice Presidents 
M V Lincoln; Dr. H H Brigham; Mrs. M A Lyman. 



Albany 
Auburn *' 

Lombard Illinois. 
Stafford 



HOTEL. 

In 1879 — 80 the dining privilege on the hill was 
awarded to H . L. Barnard of Greenfield, under 
the following conditions. Barnard to occupy a part 
of the lower floor of the present dining hall; (now 
called Association Hall,) to build an addition 50x 
60; two stories high with steep roof for attic cham- 
bers. 

The Association is to furnish $1250 and Barnard 
$1250; and if said building costs Barnard more than 
about $2500, whatever more it does cost, shall be 
the property of the Association without pay: and if 
at the end of the year the Association does not 
want Barnard longer, or Barnard does not want the 
privilege longer, the Association shall have the use 
of Barnard's half of the building, by paying six per 
cent on $1250 duriug the time that Barnard does 
not occupy it. Barnard is to furnish this building 
at his own expense, and if Barnard leaves it under 
conditions as recorded above, the Association to take 
the furnishings at an apprizal of a committee of 
three, chosen in the usual manner; said Barnard to 
pay $100 in advance for the privilege of catering 
during the next season's camping. 

Voted that a building committee of three be ap- 
pointed by the chair to draw up writings for build- 
ing the Hotel and consult with Mr. Barnard in its 
construction. M. H. Fletcher moved that the com- 
mittee consist of President Beals, Treasurer Bryant 
and N. S. Henry; which motion prevailed. 

The Fitchburg Band of twenty pieces was en- 
gaged. 



22 
Completion of the Hotel in 1880. 
Mr. Barnard made the Hotel three stories high, 
and the Directors sanctioned his action by a vote 
and appropriated $500 more to meet extra expense: 
also $150 extra to help pay for putting on piazza 
and cupola. The old Associatio nHall was moved 
to its. present site for $40.50and $100 more to place 
it in position, putting in underpinning and fixing 
stairs to same. 

Lease from the Fitchburg Rail Road. 
In 1880 it was voted to accept and join in the in- 
denture or a lease by and between the Fitchburg 
Rail Road and this Association, whereby upon the 
terms and conditions therein set forth, said com- 
pany lease to this Association a lot of land in Mon- 
tague, Mass., the same being a part of the premises 
known as the Lake Pleasant Pic Nic grounds — said 
lot being bounded southwesterly by Lyman street 
and northwesterly by Montague street and south- 
easterly by Broadway, measuring one hundred and 
seventy five feet on said Broadway and Montague 
streets, and to release as therein provided, the prem- 
ises thereby demised from the operation of the agree- 
ment made by and between said Association and 
said Company, dated May 29, 1878 — also to borrow 
five hundred dollars from said Company and to give 
a promisory note of the Association therefor, paya- 
ble to said Company on order in nine years from 
date of said loan, with interest at the rate of five per 
cent per annum; and as security therefor, to mort- 
gage to said Fitchburg Rail Road Company the new 
Hotel building upon the premises devised b}^ said 
lease; and President Beals of the Association is 



23 
hereby authorized to execute and deliver in the 
name and in behalf of the Association, the said note 
and any and all other papers and instruments, nec- 
essary or proper for the purpose aforesaid. 

NEW BY-LAWS. GROSS RECEIPTS. 

In 1880 a new set of By-Laws was adopted. 

The gross receipts for 1876 were $2049.96 : for the 
year 1877 they were $2119.48 : for the year 1878 
they were $2591.45 : for the year 1879 they were 
$3343.58; for the year 1880 they were $5018.83. 

THE DANCING PRIVILEGE. 

In 1881, 1882 and 1883 John H. Smith paid for 
the dancing privilege, each year $750; making a 
total of $2250. 



Methodists tried to redeem Lake Pleasant. 

About the third year of the Spiritualist Camp- 
meeting, the Methodists held a Campmeeting, im- 
mediately following that of the Spiritualists, and 
continuing for one week. Many of the mediums 
remained and reaped quite a harvest from the pat- 
ronage of the Methodists, chiefly from the women. 

So great was this patronage that the ministers con- 
cluded that it was more dangerous than safe to pro- 
long the meeting, and at the close of the week they 
abandoned the attempt to redeem Lake Pleasant. 
They concluded that Satan had such a stronghold 
that God even with the help of the Methodists, 
could not stem the tide of heretical thought which 
was engulfing this unholy place ! 



Lake Pleasant as seen by the Springfield 
Republican in 1S80. 

With the opening of the new Hotel at Lake Pleas- 
ant, Thursday, this delightful and rapidly growing 
popular summer resort is again brought to the pub- 
lic attention. The rapidity with which it has grown 
into public favor is remarkable. Three years ago 
the most sanguine admirers of this "nest of beauty" 
hardly dared dream of such a change; but the 
change from the once quiet nook, disturbed but now 
and then by parties of distant villagers, to the now 
buttling village, full of animation from June to Oc- 
tober, is undoubtedly permanent. In the place of 
the ordinary tent to be taken up and moved at a 
moment's notice, neat and substantial cottages are 
built, the old time cow-paths through the woods 
have given place to regular streets, running in every 
direction. 

The grove proper is shaded by small white and 
yellow pines, with a few chestnuts and poplars, and 
comprises some 50 acres. Thjs is now all occupied. 
The Fitchburg Rail Road Company 
has cleared and opened, beyond the ravine, a love- 
ly bit of woods bordering on the lake, covering 50 
acres or more, and a dozen houses are to go up there 
this season. They are more generous with the 
land here, allowing a 50 feet square site for a build- 
ing lot, while on the old ground very little land 
is given more than the cottage or tent actually covers. 

There are now more than 90 cosy cottages upon 
the grounds, and others are springing up on every 
corner. One peculiar and pleasant feature about 
the location is the fact, the mosquito's sharp proboscis 



25 

is rarely felt. Another noticeable fact is that the 
soil is of such an absorbing nature that, no matter 
how drenching' a shower may pour down, in an hour 
after the rain, one may walk around wilh slippers on 
and not get his feet wet. 

While all the advantages of unmolested nature 
are retained, the conveniences of city life are visible 
on every hand. The post and telegraph offices are 
handy, stores with everything needed for the inner 
and outer man are within reach, bathing houses line 
the banks of the lake, the daily papers are promptly 
on hand, and during the campmeeting season, a pa- 
per is published on 'Am ground: the slick barber, 
the glib news boy, the noisjr boot black, itinerant 
peddlar, the dignified police — all and more are with- 
in its borders as reminders of "home, sweet home."' 
The Spiritualist Association presents an almost end- 
less variety of attractions. One of the greatest is 
the engagement each year of the Fitchburg military 
band of 24 pieces, who gives two concerts daily and 
three on Sunday. 

This, the opening week at the Spiritualists' en- 
campment, in point of campers, visitors and general 
interest, has been unprecedented. The managers, 
speakers, mediums and purveyors are all in a very 
hopeful condition, and freely assert that another 
week will prove this to be ''the greatest campmeet- 
ing of Spiritualists ever held in the world." From 
every direction on heavily loaded trains ma} r daily 
be seen scores of the faithful on their annual pilgrim- 
age to this Mecca of the Spiritual gospel. 

The growth of this summer resort is marvellous! 
There ^ire now 175 tents set up, with a prospect of 



26 

50 more before the season closes, and the appear- 
ance of permanency is given in the erection of very 
neat cottages from year Lo year. 

Previous to the organization of this Association 
six years ago, there was not a building on the 
grounds, while to-da3 r there are 125 modern struct- 
ures, including handsome cottage homes, eight large 
restaurants, dining and refreshment rooms, and a 
large hotel. The latter, built at cost of $10,000 
has already proved a success: 250 guests are regis- 
tered, every room being occupied, and two carloads 
of bedsteads and bedding arrived to-day to be set up 
in the attic and halls. 

The arrivuls of the week have been large, and the 
lake is now a village of some 2.000 people. Hun- 
dreds daily visit the place out of curiosity, to "see 
what kind of folks these Spiritualists are," while a 
larger class still, go to enjoy the scenery of this love- 
ty lake and its surroundings. Both parties return 
to their homes well pleased. I know whereof I af- 
firm when I say that at no campmeeting in all New 
England is there less drunkenness or other disorder 
than here. The crowd is promiscuous, but it is well 
behaved outwardly. No building on the premises is 
of less use than the lockup. There is less rowdyism 
than prevailed about the Methodist tented field at 
Northampton, or that of the Adventists of your own 
Liberty street hill. As an excursionists' paradise, the 
spot more than holds its own. 

FOOT BRIDGE OVER THE RAIL ROAD. 

The people from Connecticut and along the line 
of the New London and Northern Rail Road, after a 
few years, came in such numbers, the Rail Road 



27 
Company erected a shed station some half mile 
south east of the Gamp; built stairs on which 
to ascend to the plain and also a foot bridge over 
the Fitchburg Rail Road, opposite the dancing Pa- 
vilion. This bridge was taken down in 1904, the 
station shed having been burned several years before. 
Expenses of band and vocal music in 1881. 

The Association paid in 1881, $1385 and also 
boarded the Band. The Association paid f 175 for 
vocal music that year. 

Clerk's salary. 
In 1881 the clerk's salary was 1100. 
Skating Rink. 

About 1884 H. L. Barnard built a large rink for 
roller skating on the south bluff opposite the head of 
Lyman street. The sport became so popular the first 
season that the patronage of the dancing Pavilion 
was seriously reduced. Seeing the danger threaten- 
ing her devotees, the Goddess, Terpsichore inspired 
one of her most ardent adherents to apply a lighted 
match to the rink and in smoke and flame the 
burnt offering went up while Satyrs sang and danced. 
The Roberts' Scrimmage. 

In 1882 Jonathan Roberts of Philadelphia, editor 
and publisher of a Spiritualist paper, called Mind 
and Matter, came to Lake Pleasant; and by his in- 
discreet zeal and intense antagonism to Colonel 
John C. Bundy, editor and publisher of the Religio 
Philosophical Journal of Chicago, caused much fric- 
tion in the Camp. He was led by his fractious tem- 
per, to insult President Beals and other members of 
the Association so that the following resolution was 
passed by the Directors. 



28 
"Whereas one' Jonathan M. Roberts, the editor 
and publisher of a newspaper, called Mind and Mat- 
ter, and published in Philadelphia, has during the 
past few days, while upon the grounds of the New 
England Spiritualist Campmeeting Association, 
grossly insulted the President of the Association by 
shaking his fist in his face, and the use of improper 
language and in another case, insulted Judge Patton 
of Pennsylvania, by loud and obscene language, too 
vile for record or publication, and in still another 
instance, attacking the editor of the Reliyio Philo- 
sophical Jovrnal, and in a public place, using obscene 

and profane language; such as 'You G d d d 

son of a b h: You G d d- d villain: d d 

liar' and only ceasing when the police had hands on 
him : and all these outrages having been committed 
upon the open streets of the Camp and in the hear- 
ing of numerous ladies and gentlemen; thus not only 
bringing disgrace upon the cause of Spiritualism, 
but violating the rules of decent society, and endan- 
gering the good name of the Association: — 

Therefore it is hereby resolved that we instruct 
the police to arrest said Roberts promptly, upon rep- 
etition of any such offense against any person, and 
expel him from the grounds of the Association. 

Resolved that We exceedingly regret the necessi- 
ty which compels us to take this step, and in order 
that it may be generally known that no such con- 
duct will be tolerated upon the grounds of this Asso- 
ciation, we hereby request that the proceedings of 
this meeting be published in the columns of the sev- 
eral papers of the county, and of the Lake Pleasant 



■29 
Si/tings, and in all other papers having an interest 
in promoting the welfare of society and the peace 
and good order of Campmeetings in general; and 
that a copy be furnished Judge Patton and Colonel 
Bundy. " 

The publication of this action of the board of Di- 
rectors intensely angered Mr. Roberts. In spite of 
the earnest request of the f;iends of Mr. Roberts not 
to bring suit against these officers for slander, he 
persisted in bringing suit against the members as in- 
dividuals, not as officers. The case was tried at 
Greenfield and Roberts was defeated. 

Some members of the Association held the opin- 
ion that the individuals sued should pay the cost 
of the defense, but the Association by a vote of 323 
to 50 decided to assume the debt. 

Band stand on Lyman street. 

This band stand was built in 1885 by H. L. Barnard. 

Memorial to M. V. Lincoln. 

The following resolution of respect to M. V. Lin- 
coln was parsed by the Association in 1885. 

Whereas Mr. M. V. Lincoln, a member of the New 
England Spiritualist Campmeeting Association, also 
a Director and Treasurer, has given for years to this 
Association much of his time and talents, and has 
rendered to this Association pecuniary aid and as- 
sistance when the same has been needed; and 
Whereas at the present election of officers of said 
Association, others have been elected to fill the place 
of said Lincoln, after the expiration of his present 
term of office: 



30 

Therefore it is hereby declared and resolved as 
the sense of this Association, that it is due to the 
said Lincoln and his many friends, that this Associ- 
ation place upon its records the expression of its 
sincere and heartfelt thanks to the said M. V. Lin- 
coln for his long and faithful service rendered to it, 
both as an officer and a member: 
Resolved that it is the sense of this Association that 
indispensingwith his services as an officer, we do so 
with extreme regret and are actuated by a sense of 
duty to him as well as to the Association, and that 
his rapidly failing health and an appreciation of his 
efforts to do for others more than his circumstances 
will warrant, have impelled us to do for him what he 
is unwilling to do for himself; excuse him from a 
responsibility and care it would be inhuman to im- 
pose upon him. 

Resolved that a copy of these resolutions be duly 
engrossed and presented to the said M. V. Lincoln 
and that we invoke the blessing of God and the an. 
gel world upon him and his family. 

Memorial, to W. H. Gilmore in 1885. 
Whereas, through the interposition of those causes 
which in the natural course of events, removes all 
men from the mortal to the immortal life, our be- 
loved brother and colaborer, W. H. Gilmore, one of 
the Directors of this Association, has passed on to 
reap the golden harvest which his many good deeds 
of his well-spent life have entitled him to receive: 

Therefore, resolved that we, the Directors of this 
Association, while rejoicing in his gain and happiness, 
nevertheless hereby record our sorrow and regret 
that we have lost the services and companionship of 



31 
one whose courage and devotion to virtue and 
truth made him so useful to this Association. 

Resolved that we tender to his family our sympa- 
thy in the hour of their affliction and we direct that 
these resolutions be entered upon the records of this 
Association, and that an engrossed copy of the same 
be presented to his widow. 

♦ ■ • ■ ♦ 

Formation of the Lake Pleasant Association 
in 1886. 

(the syndicate.) 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts : Town of Mon- 
tague : County of Franklin. 

Know all men by these presents — that we, the 
several persons whose names are subscribed hereunto 
enter into the following compact and agreement to 
and with each other and bind ourselves, our heirs 
executors, administrators and assigns, to the faithful 
keeping of the terms, covenants and agreements 
thereof. 

First. — As an incorporated body, we shall be 
known and designated as the Lake Pleasant Asso- 
ciation. 

Second. — The object and purpose of our Associa- 
tion is to purchase the lands, or so much thereof as 
the present owners will sell, which the New Eng- 
land Spiritualist Campmeeting Association, now 
holds for their Campmeeting ; the price not to ex- 
ceed $15,000 for so much as lies westerly of the 
Fitchburg Rail Road, the said Rail Road reserving 
sufficient land for station purposes and additional 
rights or reservations which do not materially de- 
tract from the value of the land to be purchased, 



32 

which may be made, shall not impair the binding 
obligations of this compact. 

To survey and lay the same out into lots, streets, 
squares and plazas, beautify and improve the grounds, 
sell and lease lots, rights and privileges of land, lake 
or water, subject to such restrictions as the Associ- 
ation may impose. 

Third. — Twentyfive per cent of the net revenue 
derived from such sales or rentals shall be paid to 
the New England Spiritualist Campmeeting Associ- 
ation for the improvement of its grounds, payment 
of its debts and its general campmeeting purposes, 
under the supervision of the said Trustees. 

Fourth. — The remaining proceeds of sales, after 
i the deduction of the legitimate expenses attending 
the various transactions incident to these objects 
so fast as the same shall be received, except as this 
Association may by a majority vote, otherwise de- 
termine, shall be divided among and paid over pro- 
rata among the subscribers hereunto, or to their le- 
gal representatives, according to the number of cer- 
tificates or shares held by each, and such certifi- 
cates shall be numbered, and each certificate shall 
show or state on its face how many shares are rep- 
resented by it and the serial number or numbers of 
said shares. 

Eacli certificate shall be signed by the President 
and Secretary of the said Lake Pleasant Associa- 
tion, and such payments shall be semi-annual. 

Fifth. — This Association may devote to the use of 
the New England Spiritualist Campmeeting Associ- 
ation, such portion or portions of the said lands, 
when so purchased, and proceeds of sales or rents, 







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33 

to improving the grounds purchased, as the mem- 
bers of this Association by a two thirds vote of those 
attending or legally representing shall designate. 

Sixth. — In the purchase of said lands, the title 
shall be taken by and in the names of the following- 
persons as trustees, for the more convenient and 
safe transaction of the business and operations con- 
templated by this compact — Asahel T. Pierce; A. T. 
Whiting and Lewis Bartholomew. 

Seventh. — In accepting said trust, said Trustees 
and any successors shall subscribe to the agreement 
annexed thereto. 

Eighth. — Either of said Trustees may resign by a 
written notice to that effect to the President and 
Clerk of the Association hereby created, which no- 
tice shall be mailed sixty days preceding the time it 
shall take effect; which said resignation shall be 
acknowledged before a competent officer that it may 
be recorded. 

Ninth. — In the purchase of said lands, said Trus- 
tees shall effect the same upon the best terms in their 
judgment possible, for the objects and purposes of 
this Association and of the New England Spiritual- 
ist Campmeeting Association : and as such Trustees, 
shall or may as the case may require, mortgage back 
the lands when purchased to secure the unpaid pur- 
chase money at such times as shall conform to the 
subscriptions. 

Tenth. — Any vacancy in the said board of Trus- 
tees shall be filled by the remaining Trustees, with 
the written, joint approval of the President and 
. Clerk, which appointment shall be duly signed, ac- 
knowledged and recorded. 



34 

Eleventh. — Such Trustees shall possess no power 
to create any other debt or to mortgage the grounds 
so purchased unless authorized so to do by a two- 
thirds vote of this Association. They shall be sub- 
ject in their action to the control of this Associa- 
tion, and any one may be removed by a two-thirds vote 
of this Association, when the vacancy shall be filled 
by a majority of the Association. 

Said Trustees shall be subject to suspension by 
the Association— they shall attend to the surveying 
of the lots and grounds and the laying out of the 
same, also to the apprisal, sale and leasing thereof 
and as such Trustees, they are empowered to exe- 
cute, acknowledge and deliver deeds and leases to 
purchasers and lessees ; but no lease shall be made 
for a longer time than three years, without a writ- 
ten approval of this Association, endorsed thereon 
and duly acknowledged. 

Said Trustees shall not sell or lease any lot or 
privilege to any person objectionable to the board of 
Directors of the New England Spiritualist Camp- 
meeting Association, or for any purpose contradio- 
tive of its objects or objectionable to its laws, rules 
and regulations ; and all deeds and leases shall be 
subject thereto and to such other conditions and re- 
strictions as said Trustees shall prescribe ; and it 
shall be the duty of said Trustees from time to time 
to confer upon matters of interest to both Associa- 
tions, with the Directors of the said New England 
Spiritualist Campmeeting Association. 

Twelfth. — Said Trustees shall appoint one of 
their number, a Treasurer, who shall also be the 
Treasurer of the Lake Pleasant Association and a 



35 
member of the New England Spiritualist Campmeet- 
ing Association, who shall hold on deposit in some 
suitable bank, the moneys coming into his hands 
and he shall give bonds in the sum of ten thousand 
dollars with good and sufficient security for the 
faithful performance of his trust. 

Said Treasurer shall keep a detailed account of 
receipts and expenditures, stating from whence re- 
ceived and for what purpose disbursed, together 
with vouchers for all payments made : which books 
shall be at all times open for the subscribers or their 
legal representatives, to inspect; and during the 
month of August in each year, the same shall be 
upon the grounds of the New England Spiritualist 
Campmeeting Association. 

Thirteenth. — -Said Trustees shall paj r off and dis- 
charge said mortgage at the earliest practicable mo- 
ment consistent with the welfare of the Association. 

Fourteenth. — Said Trustees shall elect from their 
number a President, Clerk and Treasurer and shall 
keep accurate minutes of all their proceedings, and 
the same shall be open to the inspection of every 
shareholder in this Association, and the Clerk 
shall print and circulate among the shareholders of 
this Association in the month of January of each 
year, a brief statement of all the transactions of the 
board of Trustees. 

The Lake Pleasant Association shall fix the com- 
pensation of the board of Trustees on the second 
Monday of August in each year on the grounds of 
the Association. 

Fifteenth. — As soon as the amount required for 
the first payment is raised, the subscribers shall 



36 
meet'and elect by a majority vote, to be canvassed 
as hereinafter prescribed, for a President, Treasurer 
and Clerk, who shall hold their offices for one year 
and shall be elected annualty on the second Mon- 
day of August — the first year to expire on that day 
in the coming August. 

Sixteenth. — Any person who holds in his own 
or her right and name, am^ certificate representing 
his or her interest in this Association, shall be entitled 
to one vote for each share of fifty dollars represented 
in said certificate ; and in his or her absence, any 
person holding a duly signed and acknowledged 
proxy, may vote in the name, place and stead of 
such absent person. 

Dividends realized and due to the members of 
this Association shall be paid to the person in 
whose name the certificate stands, calling for the 
payment as above by the books of the Association, at 
the time of payment, but the Treasurer shall for 
'greater safety, require the production of the certifi- 
cate at the time of payment, and the endorsement of 
the receipt of payment shall be made thereon and a 
duplicate receipt given. 

Seventeenth. — The Clerk of the Association shall 
keep an accurate stock or certificate book in 
which the names of holders of certificates shall 
be kept; stating the number of shares held, opposite 
each person's name; aud transfer of certificates 
shall be in writing and duly witnessed and acknowl- 
edged and entered upon a book kept for that pur- 
pose; and in canvassing of votes upon any and all 
matters and occasions, the votes shall be received 
and canvassed according to the record of the share 



87 

holders upon the books of the Association at that time. 

Eighteenth. — This Association may be incorpora- 
ted under the laws of the State, or by special enact- 
ment, by a vote of two thirds of its members, to be 
canvassed as aforesaid: provided the substantial rights 
and interests of the persons and parties shall be bet- 
ter subserved in the opinion of its members and in 
that event all officers and members, and Trustees 
shall conform to legal requirements as decided by 
the Association. 

Nineteenth. — If the New England Spiritualist 
Campmeeting Association shall fail for the space 
of one 3'ear, to hold its Campmeeting upon these 
grounds, all benefits to be derived by it from this 
Association shall cease and determine; and the funds 
which would otherwise flow to it, shall be divid- 
ed among the members of the Association as herein 
before provided. 

Twentieth. — Any person holding a certificate rep- 
resenting an interest or share of fifty dollars, upon 
registering the same as aforesaid, is a member. 

Twenty first. — If any person subscribing hereunto 
shall fail to pay his or her subscription, the payments 
already made, if any, may at the option of the board 
of Trustees, be declared forfeited to the remaining 
members of the Association, provided the payment 
shall remain unpaid for thirty days after the date 
prescribed herein after for its payment : such delin- 
quents shall be liable to an action in the name of 
said Trustees, to recover the same, and each and ev- 
ery subscriber hereunto, hereby consents that such 
action may be so brought and maintained. 

Twenty second. — This Association shall hold an- 



38 
nual meetings for the transaction of business on 
the second Monday of August in each year at nine 
o'clock in the forenoon. 

The President may also call a special meeting by 
previous thirty days, written notice mailed to each 
member, directed to the residence of such member 
as the same shall appear upon the books of the As- 
sociation, unless the Clerk shall have better infor- 
mation of the residence of members. 

Said notice shall contain the time and place of 
meeting, which shall be at some convenient place in 
this state. 

At its annual meeting^ its members may prescribe 
additional rules, regulations and by laws by a two- 
thirds vote of those present. It shall require the 
presence of members representing at least one half 
of the number of certificates of stock to constitute 
a quorum. 

Twenty third. — At the annual meeting, by a vote 
representing two thirds of the entire certificates of 
stock of the Association, favoring it, changes may be 
made in the substantial parts of this compact or 
agreement, provided the same do not essentially 
discriminate between or affect the interests of the 
members : and such changes,, when made shall have 
the same binding force and effect as if contained 
herein at the time of the making of this compact or 
agreement. 

Twenty fourth. — In testimony of the adoption of 
this compact in each and all of its provisions, and of 
our severally covenanting and agreeing to and with 
each other and with the Association to faithfully 
keep and perform the same, we do hereby severally 



39 
subscribe our names hereto and do further covenant 
and agree to pay to the Treasurer of the board 
of Trustees, to be appointed as herein before pro- 
vided, the sum set opposite our respective names 
and seals, one fourth thereof within ten days from 
the date of subscription, and the remainder within 
six mouths from this date if required: and if not 
so required, the amount which shall be required 
according" to the notice from said Treasurer, such 
payments to be delivered or forwarded to him. 

Witness our hands and seals this 23d day of Au- 
gust, 1886. 

Name and P. O. address of each subscriber. 

Elmer Terry, Los Angeles Cal. $2.0000 40 shares. 
Asahel T. Pierce, Pawtucket R.I. $500 10 shares. 

A. H. Dailey Brooklyn N Y $1000 20 shares. 

Augustus C. Carey Boston Mass. $1000 20 shares. 

Allison T. Whiting Utica N. Y. $500 10 shares. 

Lewis Bartholomew Phila. Pa. $500 10 shares. 

John White Buffalo New York $3000 60 shares. 

Charles R Munger Newton Kansas $500 10 shares. 

Noble Hopkins Utica New York $500 10 shares. 

Sarah P Wilson Bridgeport Conn. $500 10 shares. 

Delia D White Buffalo New York $500 10 shares. 

Sarah L Pierce Pawtucket R I $500 10 shares. 

C P Wise Turners Falls Mass. $500 10 shares. 

H L Barnard Greenfield Mass. $500 10 shares. 

Wm. R Tice Brooklyn New York $1000 20 shares. 

Joseph Beals Greenfield Mass. $500 10 shares. 

James Wilson Bridgeport Conn. $500 10 shares. 

John W Wheeler Orange Mass. $500 10 shares. 

N S Henry Montague Mass. $500 10 shares. 



40 

Commonwealth of Mass., Suffolk co., Boston 
Mass. October 7 1886. 

Then personally appeared the afore named Asa- 
hel a T Pierce, A T Whiting and Lewis Bartholomew 
and severally acknowledged the foregoing instru- 
ment to be their free act and deed ; before me, 

Horace G Allen. 
Notary Public. Notarial seal. 



Know all men by these presents — that we, the 
subscribers hereunto, having been duly elected Trus- 
tees to carry out and. execute the trusts, created by 
the foregoing instrument in writing, do hereby sev- 
erally accept said trust and do hereby covenant and 
agree to and with said Lake Pleasant Association 
and its several members, that we will faithfully 
keep and perform the several duties thereby im- 
posed upon us to the best of our ability. 

Witness our hands and seals this 23d day of 
August, 1886. 

Asahel T Pierce. (seal.) 

Allison T Whiting. (seal) 

Lewis Bartholome w. (seal) 

Commonwealth of Mass., Suffolk co. Boston Oc- 
tober 7 1886. Then personally appeared the above 
named Asahel T Pierce, Allison T Whiting and 
Lewis Bartholomew and severally acknowledged 
the foregoing to be their free act and deed : before 
me, Horace G- Allen. Notary Public. Notarial seal. 



41 



LAKE PLEASANT ASSOCIATION BUYS OUT 
THE CA31PMEET1NG- ASSOCIATION IN 1887. 
Know all men by these presents, that by the au- 
thority given the board of Directors by the New 
England Spiritualist Campmeeting Association, that 
to facilitate the purchase of the grounds of the said 
Association, of the Fitchburg Kail Road by the Lake 
Pleasant Association, that the lease with the said 
Kail Road be cancelled, upon the agreement sub- 
mitted to said New England Spiritualist Camp- 
meeting Association by the Lake Pleasant Associa- 
tion; and the benefits to this Association thereby 
derived. 

Voted on motion of Mr. Dailey, that' the Lake 
Pleasant Association be requested to give to this 
Association the customary public grounds to use for 
Campmeeting purposes during the balance of the 
term of its lease with the Fitchburg Rail Road Com- 
pany, which lias been cancelled; also the use of the 
grounds occupied by its buildings and its water 
privilege, free of rent during said term. 

Lake Pleasant Association accepts. 

The Lake Pleasant Association then presented the 
following agreement to the New England Spiritual- 
ist Campmeeting Association. 

"We accept the proposition of the New England 
Spiritualist Campmeeting Association and will do all 
repairs necessary to grounds, stairs &c, which belong- 
to the Lake Pleasant Association — also do the pump- 
ing and give to the New England Spiritualist Camp- 
meeting Association twenty five per cent of the net 
receipts from the Rail Roads — the New England 
Spiritualists Campmeeting Association to leave the 



42 
buildings in as good condition as it receives them 
but this does not include rents of grounds of mem- 
bers — the New England Spiritualist Campmeeting 
Association to keep the grounds in order from July 
15th to September 15th. 

A. T. Pierce. 
Signed L. Bartholomew, 
A. T. Whiting. 



Amendments to the By-Laws made in 
1889. offered by A. C.C arey. 

The officers of the New England Spiritualist 
Campmeeting Association shall consist of eight Di- 
rectors, a President, a Vice President and a Clerk. 
The Directors shall be stockholders in the Lake 
Pleasant Association and shall be chosen annually 
by ballot, to serve one year from the first day of Jan- 
uary next following said meeting, and a majority of 
the votes cast shall be necessary to a choice. 

The President shall be chosen by the Directors 
from their number. The Directors shall appoint a 
Clerk, who may or may not be a stockholder 
in the Lake Pleasant Association. The Treasurer 
of the Lake Pleasant Association shall be the 
Treasurer of the New England Spiritualist Camp- 
meeting Association. 

Transfer to Lake Pleasant Association. 

The New England Spiritualist Campmeeting As- 
sociation, a corporation existing under the laws of 
Massachusetts, for a valuable consideration hereby 
sells, assigns and transfers and delivers all the per 
sonal property of every kind and description, as per 



43 

inventory numbered 1 to 7 wherever situated, to 
Asahel T. Pierce of Pawtucket, Rhode Island; Alli- 
son T. Whiting of Utica, New York and Lewis Bar- 
tholomew of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Trustees 
of the Lake Pleasant Association under an inden- 
ture dated August 2d, 1886 and recorded in the 
Franklin County Registry of Deeds, book 394 page 22. 

And for a valuable consideration, said Pierce, Bar- 
tholomew and Whiting as aforesaid, agree to assume 
and pay all debts and obligations of said corpora- 
tion and to save said corporation harmless there from. 

In witness whereof the said New England Spiritu- 
alist Campmeeting Association has caused this in- 
strument to be signed by its Board of Directors and 
said Asahel T. Pierce, Allison T. Whiting and Lew- 
is Bartholomew hereunto set our hands and seals 
this 3d day of August, 1890. 

Joseph Beals; Asahel T. Pierce; James Wilson, 
Lewis Bartholomew; W. R. Tice; John W. Wheeler, 
Directors of the ^New England Spiritualist Camp- 
meeting Association. Witness, J. Milton Young. 

Asahel T. Pierce and Lewis Bartholomew, Trus- 
tees of the Lake Pleasant Association. 



SALE OF LAKE PLEASANT TO THE LAKE 
PLEASANT ASSOCIATION. 

In 1887 the Lake Pleasant Association bought 
the Campmeeting Grove of the Fitehburg Rail Road 
Company for $15,000, as will be seen by this deed. 

Know all men by these presents : that the Fitch- 
burg Rail Road Company, a corporation existing in 
the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and by virtue 



44 

of the laws thereof, in consideration of fifteen thou- 
sand dollars paid by Asahel T. Pierce of Pawtucket 
in the state of Rhode Island, Lewis Bartholomew of 
Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania, and A. T. 
Whiting of Utica in the state of New York, the re- 
ceipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, do hereby 
reraise, release and forever quit claim unto the said 
Asahel T. Pierce, Lewis Bartholomew and A. T. 
Whiting, all that portion of certain real estate sit- 
uate in Montague in the county of Franklin and 
Commonwealth aforesaid, near Great Pond, formerly 
so called, and now known as Lake Pleasant, con- 
veyed to said Fitchburg Rail Road by the inhabitants 
of the town of Montague, by their deed, recorded in 
the Franklin county registry of deeds, book 366, 
page 8, lying northerly of the location of the Ver- 
mont and Massachusetts Rail Road — all the right, 
title and interest acquired by virtue of a certain lease 
from said Vermont and Massachusetts Rail Road 
Company for the term of nine hundred and ninety 
nine years in and to certain tracts of land, situated 
in said Montague, being the same real estate, con- 
veyed to said Vermont and Massachusetts Rail Road 
Company by George W. Potter, by his deed, dated 
August 17, 1872 and recorded in said registry, book 
302, page 24, and by Samuel D. Bardwell, by 
deed dated August 17, 1872 and recorded in said 
registry, book 297, page 215. 

To all which deeds and the deeds therein re- 
ferred to, reference is hereby made for a description 
of said real estate-together also with all buildings and 
p ersonal property thereon, belonging to said corpora- 



45 

tions and all easements, privileges and appurtenan- 
ces and water rights therein belonging. 

Subject however to all rights of the Turners Falls 
Fire District as set forth in chapter 266 of the acts 
and resolves of said Commonwealth for the year 
1886: excepting and reserving also sufficient land 
adjoining the location aforesaid, for a railroad station 
and approaches thereto, and the right for the town 
of Montague aforesaid, or the aforesaid county of 
Franklin, to take without compensation, as much 
of said land near said Rail Road station as may be 
needed for a highway or town way, and wherever 
the same may be hereafter laid out, such high- 
way to run upon or be laid out south or southwest 
of the street now laid out and called First Avenue. 

To hold the above released premises to the said 
Asahel T. Pierce, Lewis Bartholomew and A. T 
Whiting their heirs and assigns to their use and 
behoof forever. 

And the said Fitchburg Rail Road Company and 
their successors and assigns, do covenant with the 
said Pierce, Bartholomew and Whiting, their heirs 
and assigns, that the premises are free from all en- 
cumbrances, made or. suffered by said Fitchburg Rail 
Road Company and that the said Company will and 
shall warrant and defend the same to the said Pierce, 
Bartholomew and Whiting, their heirs and assigns 
forever, against the lawful claims and demands of 
all persons claiming by, through or under said 
Fitchburg Rail Road Company but against no other. 

In witness whereof the said Fitchburg Rail Road 
Company, by Elijah B. Phillips, their President 
and Daniel A. Gleason, their Treasurer, thereunto 



46 

duly authorized, have hereunto set their signatures 
and the corporate seal this twenty ninth day of 
March in the year of our Lord, eighteen hundred 
and eighty seven.' 

Fitchburg Rail Road Company by E. B. Phillips, 
President. Corporate seal. 

Countersigned, Daniel A. Gleason, Treasurer. 

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of Thom- 
as Williams. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Suffolk County, 

April 1 1887. 

Then personally appeared the within named E. 
B. Phillips and Daniel A. Gleason and acknowl- 
edged the within instrument to be the free act and 
deed of the Fitchburg Rail Road Company. 
Before me, Thomas Whittemore, Justice of the Peace. 



Vote to sell to the Lake Pleasant Asso- 
ciation in 1887. 

At a Directors' meeting held March 27, 1887, 
the President was authorized to deed the property 
known as Lake Pleasant Pic-nic grounds, to Asahel 
T. Pierce of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Lewis Bar- 
tholomew of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and A. T. 
Whiting of Utica, New York ; also all the right, 
title and interest in land, or that part acquired by 
by lease from the Vermont and Massachusetts Rail 
Road Company. A true copy, Thomas Whittemore. 

Franklin s s. May 7th 1887. 

Recorded and compared by Edwin Stratton Register. 



47 
Failure of the Syndicate at Lake Pleasant. 

Some five years ago, in August, 1886, a voluntary 
association was formed under the title of the "Lake 
Pleasant Association," for the purpose of purchas- 
ing the grounds of the Fitchburg Rail Road Com- 
pany. 

The New England Spiritualist Campmeeting As- 
sociation had carried on meetings for thirteen years, 
leasing the land of the Rail Road Company. This 
Company had refused to renew the lease, and hence 
it became necessary to purchase the grounds. 

A strong effort was made to induce the owners of 
cottages to subscribe a sum sufficient to buy the 
grounds, but as $15,000 was the price, the subscrip- 
tion fell short about $2,000. Then several Spiritual- 
ists at Camp, cottagers and others decided to 
form the Lake Pleasant Association, issue stock to 
t hemselves and purchase the grounds and buildings. 
A T Pierce, A T Whiting and Lewis Bartholo- 
mew were appointed to act as Trustees for this new 
Association and to make the purchase. 

The property was bought, surveyed and divided 
into building lots, and each cottager was offered a 
chance to buy at a fixed valuation, the land on 
which his cottage stood. In the course of a year 
nearly all the cottagers had purchased their several 
lots. 

Meantime, the New England Spiritualist Camp 
meeting Association had .carried on meetings at a 
loss, and it became necessary to get out of debt. 
Finally the Lake Pleasant Association assumed the 
debt of the Campmeeting Asssociation and took its 



48 

property, the hotel, the water and electric light 
plants, &c. 

Then the "Syndicate" through the Campmeeting 
Association, took control of the meetings;. This 
method became necessary because the Lake Pleasant 
Association was not a chartered body while the oth- 
er was. 

The result from the thiee years of management by 
the " Syndicate" was a series of well-conducted 
meetings, but at a loss to the management, the re- 
ceipts each year not meeting the expenses. 

The "Syndicate" then found itself $4,000 in debt 
as* the result of assuming the debt of the Campmeet- 
ing Association, and the loss in running the meet- 
ings. 

The "Syndicate" have during the past five years, 
declared one dividend of 25 per cent, but have re- 
ceived no interest on their original outlay of 115.000. 
The following statement of Mr. A T Pierce, the 
present Treasurer of the "Syndicate," will show 
how much the receipts from the sale of land &c, have 
been up to August 1891. 

Mr. Barnard, Dear Sir: — Mr. Bartholomew's new 
book shows he has taken for land, including; rents, inter- 
ests and sales, $20.212.58. ; August 28 , 1891 . 

A T Pierce. 

•It appears that the "Syndicate" still owes its 
stockholders 115.000 minus the dividend of $3,750 
plus loan at Crocker Savings Bank, $4,000; equals 
$15,250: that is, a sum $250 larger than the original 
purchase price. 

The reader will be interested to know what has 
become of the $20,212.58 receipts from sales, rents 



49 

and interest . The following official statement, 
taken from the printed report to the stockholders 
will give some of the desired information. 

Lake Pleasant Association Assets. 
January 1, 1891. Cr. 

By cash in Treasury, $ 186.11 

l> Stock at Lake Pleasant 102.53 
" Tee at " 100.00 

"Property from N E S C A 7.150.00 
"■ Amount due for land. Stock- 
holders per cent, 3.000.00 
" Land surveyed 24.300.00. 
"Land not surveyed, 5.000.00 
" Electric Light Plant, 2.000.00. 
"Depot Buildings, 1.200.00 
" Pavilion. 1.200.00. 
" Engine House, 300.00. 
lk Steam Engine and Pump 600.00, 
L " Water Pipe laid, 1.000.00, • 

" Tank and House. 1.000,00. 

, « Boats, 800.00. 

" Land sold, due Aug.1892, 300.00. 



Total, $48,238.64. 

Dr. 
To Capital Stock, $15,000.00. 

" Bills payable, 3.200.00. 

" Account about, 200. 



Total, $18,400.00. 

Balance, $29,838.64. 

By the above statement it appears that there re- 
mains much land unsold. The value put upon this 



50 
land is too high. Most of it remains unsoldto this day. 
$8,000 would be a more sensible valuation. De- 
ducting $21,000 from the inflated credit side of the 
above statement, it shows the bankrupt condition of 
the "Syndicate"' after five years of unfortunate man- 
agement. Although the '"Syndicate" had already re- 
ceived in cash $20,212.58, it had not applied a dollar 
of this money to the liquidation of the purchase 
money. Instead of doing this, the "Syndicate" be- 
gan to waste money on premature '-improvements?" 
expensive salaries, bands and probably some "graft." 
The opposition to the management of the Lake 
Pleasant Association by a minority of its stockhold- 
ers, and intensified by a large number of cottagers, 
caused the following protest to be adopted Aug. 1891. 
"The management of the Lake Pleasant Associa- 
tion having purchased the grounds at Lake Pleasant 
Mass., ostensibly for camp-meeting purposes and to 
promote the cause of Spiritualism, and having sold a 
large number of lots of land to Spiritualists, upon 
which they have made improvements, anticipating 
considerate treatment and cordial co-operation in 
promoting the interests of the place; the manage- 
ment having so conducted itself as to create great 
discord upon the grounds, and to stand in hostile 
attitude toward a large number of persons, showing 
to the minds of the subscribers a lack of judgment 
or interest in the general welfare of the campers at 
Lake Pleasant: — 

Therefore, we, the subscribers, do hereby enter 

our protest against the arbitrary course pursued by 

the management of the Lake Pleasant Association. 

We do hereby request such of the members as do 



51 

not approve of the course of the management of the 
Lake Pleasant Association, to take steps to wind up 
its affairs, and to have the property sold, and do sev- 
erally pledge to them our unwavering aid and sup- 
port. 

We also agree to contribute such amounts as are 
set opposite our names to defra} r the expenses of 
such proceedings. Dated Aug. 14, 1891." 

This protest was signed by more than 100 cottagers 
up to Sept. 1. 

If the New England Spiritualist Camp- 
meeting Association shall so alter its by-laws as 
to make each cottager a member by virtue of the 
fact of ownership of real estate at Lake Pleasant, 
make a new issue of stock of a number of shares suf- 
ficient to give each cottager one on the paymeat of 
the price of a share, and a fund thus raised could be 
applied to the stock and debts of the Lake Pleasant 
Association, that temporary body, organized for the 
purpose of transferring the property of the Railroad 
Company to the New England Spiritualist Camp- 
meetin iT Association, having finished the work laid 
out for it to perform, it could then dissolve 
and the management in future be based upon the 
popular vote of the whole number of cottagers. 



52 



Lake Pleasant Association sells to the New Eng- 
land Campmeeting Association in 1895. 
Deed. 

Know all persons by these presents:' — That we, Alli- 
son T. Whiting of Utica, New York; Henry C. 
Douglass of Windsor Locks, Connecticut, and Abra- 
ham H. Dailey of Brooklyn, New York, Trustees of 
the Lake Pleasant Association, an incorporated as- 
sociation of persons by virtue of a certain compact 
and articles of association, bearing date the 23d day 
of August, 1886, and recorded in the Registry of 
Deeds of Franklin county, Mass, book 394, page 22, 
parties of the first part, for and in consideration of 
the sum of ten thousand dollars agreed to be paid 
by the New England Spiritualist Campmeeting As- 
sociation, the party of the second part, as is provi- 
ded , specified and conditioned in a certain con- 
tract, bearing even date herewith, made, executed 
and delivered, each to the other, by the first and 
second part, the said parties of the first part be- 
ing duly authorized so to do by said°Lake Pleasant 
Association, do hereby bargain, quit claim, sell 
and convey to the said New England Spiritualist 
Campmeeting Association, the said party of the sec- 
ond part, all of that certain piece or parcel of real 
estate situate in the town of Montague, county of 
Franklin, commonwealth of Massachusetts, near 
"Great Pond" formerly so called, now known as 
Lake Pleasant, which was conveyed to the Fitch- 
burg Rail Road Company by the inhabitants of said 



53 
town of Montague, by their deed recorded in the 
Registry of Deeds of the county of Franklin, book 
366, page 8, lying northerly of the location of the 
Vermont and Massachusetts Rail Road; also all the 
right, title and interest which said Fitchburg Rail 
Road Company acquired by virtue of a certain lease 
from said Vermont and Massachusetts Rail Road 
Company for the term of 999 years, in and to cer- 
tain tracts of land, situated in said town of Monta- 
gue, being the same real estate sold to the Vermont 
and Massachusetts Rail Road Company by George 
W. Potter, by his deed, dated August 17, 1872 and 
recorded in said Registry, book 302, page 24: and by 
Samuel D. Bardwell, by his deed dated August 17. 
1872, and recorded in said Registry, 297, page 215: 
to all of which reference is made for a further and 
more complete description, and which was by said 
Fitchburg Rail Road Company conveyed to Asahel 
T. Pierce, Lewis Bartholomew and A. T. Whiting, 
by deed dated May 7, 1887 and recorded in the office 
of said Registry in book 394, page 1, to which refer- 
ence is also made for a further description. 
And also all the right, title and interest in all of that 
real estate situate in said town of Montague at 
Lake Pleasant aforesaid which said Pierce, Barthol- 
omew and Whiting acquired from the Vermont and 
Massachusetts Rail Road Company by deed, dated 
March 23, 1887 and recorded in said Registry on 
the seventh day of May, 1887 in book 304 page 3, 
to which reference is hereby made for a further de- 
scription. 

The following, nevertheless, described lots of 



54 

land claimed to have been sold or contracted to be 
sold by one or more of the trustees of the said Lake 
Pleasant Association, as the same are laid out and 
designated by a certain plan of streets and building 
lots of Lake Pleasant, surveyed October and Novem- 
ber, 1886 by C. T. Wolcott and filed in Registry 
of deeds, are exempted from said sale. [List omitted] 
Said parties of the first part also sell hereby to 
said party of the second part, all water and land 
rights, all leasehold rights and interests, all build- 
ings and improvements upon said premises, all 
water plants, dynamos, electric lighting apparatus, 
one steamer and thirteen row boats on said premises, 
and all machinery and personal property belonging 
to said parties of the first part, all claims, dues, de- 
mands and causes of action, except when reserva- 
tions are made by agreement between the parties 
hereto. 

To have and to hold the above described premises 
so sold and conveyed to said party of the second 
part, its successors, assigns, grantees and lesses for- 
ever. 

The above described premises are subject to a 
certain mortgage held by the Crocker Institution of 
Savings of Turners Falls, to secure a balance due 
for money loaned to A. T. Pierce and others, amount- 
ing to about twenty eight hundred dollars; and to 
a certain other mortgage made to John W. Wheeler 
to secure him and others upon a certain note upon 
which there is stated to be due a balance of about 
seven hundred and fifty dollars, which said several, 
amounts, when ascertained, shall be deducted from 
the purchase money, and which said party of the 
second part agrees to pay and discharge. 



55 
Said parties of the first part hereby sell and transfer to 
said party of the second part, all roads and roadways 
and right to control ingress and egress to and from 
said grounds, which they themselves have, and right, 
and rights to assess and collect the three per cent 
taxes on lots liertofure sold by it at Lake Pleasant 
and revenue to be derived from privileges, granted 
to C. C. Jackson or any other persons. 

This instrument does not and is not intended to 
exempt from conveyance to the party of the second 
part, lots wrongfully or erroneously taken by any 
person bj' deed from any of the trustees of the Lake 
Pleasant Association at any time; nor does it give 
said party of the second part anj' cause of action 
arising from such cause against the parties of the 
first part, but in all such cases, -the cause of action 
remains in said trustees with the duty and obliga- 
tion of enforcing the same for the benefit of the par- 
ty of the second part as provided in said agreement 
between the parties hereto, bearing even date here- 
with: nor shall this deed be construed to give said 
party of the second part, the right to enforce adjust- 
ment of accounts between the said trustees or said 
trustees and any other person or corporation, but 
the same shall be adjusted by said trustees or their 
successors in their own names; and any benefits aris- 
ing therefrom shall accrue to said party of the sec- 
ond'part as provided in said agreement. 

And said parties of the first part further covenant 
to and agree with said party of the second part 
that they have not done or committed any act where- 
by either said premises or property hereby sold or 
conveyed, has been incumbered or the title thereto, 



56 

impaired, excepting as aforesaid, and that they will 
upon reasonable request of the said party of the sec- 
ond pari, but at its own cost and expense, execute, 
acknowledge and deliver any other or further con- 
veyances requisite to more effectually vest the title 
of said premises and property in said party of sec- 
ond part or its assigns, hereby intended, to be sold 
and conveyed to it. 

In testimony whereof, the parties of the first part 
have hereunto set their hands and seals this ninth 
day of November, 1895. 

Allison T. Whiting. 
Treasurer of the Lake Pleasant Association. 
Trustee " Henry C. Douglass. 

Trustee Abraham H. Dailey. 

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of — 

State of New York, County of Kings, city of 
Brooklyn, s s. 

On the ninth day of November, 1895, before me 
personally came Allison T. Whiting, Henry C. 
Douglass and Abram H. Dailey and acknowledged 
the foregoing instrument to be their free act and 
deed. Severally before me, 

Arthur L. Tomes, Notary Public. 
Kings county. Notarial seal. 

State of Massachusetts, county of Franklin, town 
of Montague. 

On the 28th day of December, 1895 before me 
personally came Allison T. Whiting, Henry C. 
Douglass and Abram H. Dailey and acknowleged 
the foregoing instrument to be their free act and deed. 
Severally before me, Chester C. Conant, Justice of 
the Peace. 

Franklin s s. December 28 1895. Recorded and 
compared: attest Edwin Stratton, Registrar. 



57 



Three per eeut Tax for 1902. 

Know all men by these presents. — That^whereas 
it was provided in the conveyances and deeds of the 
Lake Pleasant Association and the grantees named 
in said deed of the lands owned by said Lake Pleas- 
ant Association at Lake Pleasant, that said deed 
should betaken by the several grantees, subject to 
the payment of an animal tax, not exceeding three 
per cent upon the cost price of the several lots so 
conveyed as assessed by the Trustees of the Lake 
Pleasant Association: 

And whereas Asahel T. Pierce and Lewis Bar- 
tholomew, two of said Trustees, who made such con- 
veyances, and were referred to in said deed, are de- 
ceased, and I, Allison T. Whiting of Utica, New 
York, am the only surviving Trustee, now therefore 
as such Trustee, by virtue of the authority and power 
given me to that end, as sole surviving Trustee, do 
hereby lay and assess a tax of three per cent upon 
and against each of the lots so conveyed, contain- 
tng said provision, upon the cost price of each of 
said lots — the same to be paid to the Treasurer of the 
New England Spiritualist Campmeeting Association 
for campmeeting purposes. 

Witness my hand and seal this 9th day of Sep- 
tember, A. D. 1902. 

Seal. Allison T. Whiting, Trustee. 

Slate of New York; county of Kings s s. Sep- 
tember 9, ly02. 
Then personally appeared the above named Alii- 



58 

son T. Whiting and acknowledged the foregoing in- 
strument to be his free act and deed. 

Before me, Arthur F. Tomes, Notary Public. 

Kings county. Notarial seal. 

Franklin, s s Registry of Deeds. January 15 1903. 

Recorded and compared. Attest. 

John D. Bowker, Registrar. 



Three per cent for 1903. 

Know all persons by these presents, 
That I, Allison T. Whiting of Utica, New York, 
sole surviving Trustee of the Lake Pleasant Associ- 
ation, do hereby, by virtue of the authority vested 
in me as such Trustee, levy a tax of three per cent 
on the cost value of each and every lot of land, 
sold by said Trustees or Trustee of said Association, 
subject to such assessment for general Campmeeting 
purposes for the year 1903, situate at Lake Pleasant 
town of Montague, Franklin county, Mass. 
Done at Utica, New York, August 31 1903. 
Witness my hand and seal. 

Allison T. Whiting. 
In presence of Ruben Dodd. 

Acknowledged before Winifred Porter, Notary 
Public, August 31, 1903. Notarial seal. 



Three per cent Tax for 1904. 

Know all persons by these presents. 

That whereas it was provided in the conveyances 
and deeds of the Lake Pleasant Association and the 
grantees named in said deeds, of the lands owned bv 
said Lake Pleasant Association at Lake Pleasant, 
town of Montague, county of Franklin, Mass., that 
^aid deeds should be taken by the several grantees 



59 
subject to ilie payment of an animal tax, not ex- 
ceeding three per cent upon the cost price of the 
several lots so conveyed as assessed by the trustees 
of the said Lake Pleasant Association: 

And whereas Asahel T. Pierce and Lewis Bar- 
tholomew, two of said Trustees who made such con- 
veyances and were referred to in said deeds, art- 
deceased, and I, Allison T. Whiting of Utica, New 
York, am the only surviving Trustee; now, there 
lore as such Trustee, by virtue of authority and pow 
er given me to that end, as sole surviving Trustee, 
do hereby levy and assess a tax upon and against such 
of the lots so conveyed, containing said provision, 
of three per cent upon the cost price of said lots, the 
same to be paid to the Treasurer of the New Eng- 
land Spiritualist Oampmeeting Association for camp 
meeting ^purposes. 

Witness- my hand and seal this 19th day of July, 
A. D. 1901. " A. T. Whiting. " seal. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, county of Frank- 
lin: s s. Then personally appeared the above named 
A. T. Whiting and acknowledged the foregoing 
instrument to be his free act and deed. 

Before me, Albert T. Blinn, Justice of the Peace 
Franklin, s s. Registry, September 11 1905. 
Received and compared. 

Attest John Bowker, Registrar. 



Clerk's Salary. 

In 189T the clerk's salary was |200. J. B. Hatch, 
Jr a member of the Board of Directors in 1897, 
moved in the Board that the salary of the clerk 
Blinn be raised to *300 for the year 1900 This mo 
tion was carried by the Board, and the clerks sala- 
ry has remained at $300 ever since. 



60 



HARRIET M. REED CONNICK AND THE 
WATER SUIT. 

Mrs. Harriet Reed Connick in 1901, refused to 
pay the water tax because the three per cent tax 
was included in the bill. 

Clerk Blinn reported to the Board of Directors, 
that in accordance with the instructions of the Di. 
rectors, he had presented a bill to Mrs. H. R Connick. 
She had refused to pay the same — stating that she 
would pay a reasonable water tax, but not the one 
assessed. 

The water pipes to her premises were severed a 
week later, by direction of the clerk, acting under 
the authority of the Association. 

Mrs. Connick, later tendered payment of money 
to the amount assessed for water during the season 
of 1900, and requested that the pipes to her 
premises be connected: the clerk replying that he 
had no authority to connect the pipes. 

During his absence from the the grounds, Mrs. 
Connick had aTplumber connect the said pipes with 
out permission or authority from the Directors. 

After listening to the report of the clerk it was 
moved by Byron Loomis and seconded by Mrs. 
A. E. Barnes that a committee consisting of Directors 
Streeter, Crafts and clerk Blinn be and are hereby 
authorized to ascertain all facts in regard to the 
Connick matter aird place the affair in the hands 
of Samuel D. Conant for prosecution: also to ascer- 
tain if she is violating the campmeeting law, and 



61 

have lander Conantact for the Association in that 
matter, and to use his efforts in defending the inter- 
ests of the Association; the motion being carried by 
an unanimous vote. 



DEED TO EYDIA 31. REED AND HER 
DAUGHTER, HATIE M. REED (CONN1CM.) 

Know all men by these presents: — 

Iu consideration of one hundred and fifteen dollars 
paid by Lydia M. Reed and her daughter, Hattie M. 
Reed, both of Lake Pleasant, the receipt whereof 
is hereby acknowledged do hereby remise, release 
and forever quit claim unto the said Lydia M. Reed 
and to the said Hattie M. Reed, her daughter, a cer- 
tain piece or parcel of land, situated in the town of 
Montague, county of Franklin aforesaid, bounded 
and described as follows: 

* Commencing at a stake on Montague street, run- 
ning westerly forty two feet and eight inches, 
thence southerly twenty five feet and five inches; 
thence easterly, forty five feet and seven inches; 
thence northerly on Montague street, twenty seven 
feet to place of beginning; containing about eleven 
hundred and forty square feet of land, be the same 
more or less, being lot numbered 51 Montague street 
on plan drawn by C. T. Wolcott. 

The gran tees( Lydia M. Reed and Hattie M. Reed 
Connick) herein named, their heirs and assigns, shall 
pay to the Treasurer of the Campmeeting (Associa- 
tion) annually while such Association is occu" 
pying these grounds in the town of Montague, such 
sum, not exceeding three percent of the cost price 
of the within described lot, for general campmeet- 
ng expenses, as assessed by the Trustee*. 



62 

Signed &c. August 24, 1887. 

A. T. Pierce — A. T. Whiting — Lewis Barth domew. 

Acknowledged and recorded, Edwin Stratton, 

Registrar. Recorded in book 397, puge 22, Franklin 

county (Mass.) Registry. . 

FIRST SUIT AGAINST HATTIE R. CONNICK. 

A few years after this deed was accepted by Hattie 
Reed Connick, she refused to pay the three per 
cent tax. The Association brought suit against her 
for the collection of this tax amounting to about 
13.45 dollars year. 

When the case came to trial in Greenfield, Judge 
Lyman asked the plaintiff s attorney, "By what au- 
thority do you assess this tax?" 

The plaintiff's lawyer, not knowing that proof of 
this authority was to be found in the Registry of 
Deeds in same building, could not readily answer. 
Upon this the judge dismissed the case; therefore 
the claim that the defendent won in the suit, is not 
correct. The proper way to report the result is, 
The case was never tried! 



SECOND SUIT AGAINST HATTIE CONNrCK. 

In 1902 the Campmeeting Association brought 
suit against Hattie Reed Connick for trespass, in 
connecting her pipes to the water pipes of the Asso- 
ciation. The following official copy of the decree of 
the court and costs shows that the Association won. 

Office of the Clerk of Courts; G-reenfield, Mass.. 

July 30 1903. 

This is to certify that in the Case of the ,New Eng- 
land Spiritualist Campmeeting Association vs Hattie 
M. M. Connick , entered in our Superior Court, that 



63 
final decree was entered January 6 1903, and by said 
decree the respondent was ordered to pay to the Camp- 
meeting Association damages assessed at $6.75 and 
costs of court. 

Attest, Clifton L. Field, clerk. 
New England Spiritualist Gcwng meeting Associa- 
tion vs Hattie M. R. Connick. 

On February 11th, 1903 Samuel D.Conant, ati y 
for the plaintiff in the above action, received from Rat- 
tie M. R. Connick, through her attorney, damages of 
#6.75 and costs af $66.34. 

Samuel D. Conant, Atfy. 
Total amount of three per cent taxes due up to 1907 
and unpaid January 1st, from Hattie Reed Connick 
1129,24. 



DEED OF THE TEMPLE LOT. 

[Extract.] Know all men by these presents. 

That we, Asahel T. Pierce, Allison T. Whiting 
and James Wilson, Trustees of the Lake Pleasant 
Association, in consideration of one dollar and other 
valid considerations paid by the New England Spir- 
itualist Campmeeting Association, the receipt where- 
of is hereby acknowledged, do hereby give, grant, 
bargain, sell and convey unto the said New Eng- 
land Spiritualist Campmeeting Association, a certain 
piece or parcel of land situated in the town of Mon- 
tague, county of Franklin aforesaid, bounded and 
described as follows; commencing at a stake and 
stone on the southeastly corner of Adams and Audi- 
torium streets, on the grounds of the Lake Pleas- 
ant Association and running thence, easterly, along 
the south side of Adams street, 290 feet more or less 



64 
to the bridge over the Lake Pleasant outlet, thence 
southwesterly 300 feet, more or less, to a stake and 
stone on the easterly line of Auditorium street 
near the creek, thence northerly along the easterly 
line of Auditorium street, 300 feet, more or less, to 
the place of beginning. 

Said premises to be used for an auditorium and 
buildings for campmeeting purposes, a library and 
public meetings only ,said premises to revert to the 
grantees unless buildings of the value of $1000 be 
erected thereon within five years. 

A. T. Fierce — A. T. Whiting — James Wilson. 

Signed and witnessed as usual, August 26 1892. 
Recorded in Franklin county Registry, book 397 
page 247. 



JOSEPH BEALS RETIRES FROM THE 
PRESIDENCY IN 1892. 

The following resolution was unanimously adopt- 
ed by rising vote at the Annual meeting of the.New 
England Spiritualist Campmeeting Association, Au- 
gust 18, 1892. 

Resolution in honor of Dr. Joseph Beals. 

In kind remembrance and deep appreciation of the 
nineteen years of self-sacrificing services of Dr. Jo- 
seph Beals as President of the New England Spirit- 
ualist Campmeeting Association; we, the members 
of said Association tender our hearty thanks to him 
for his admirable devotion to our cause, our warm- 
est gratitude for his sincere sympathy for all the 
campers and visitors these many years; and our ear- 
nest wishes that he may enjoy a serene and happy 
sunset of life. 



65 
An honored President, a man of strict integrity 
and upright conduct, we pray that he may be, for 
many years to come, a dweller with us in this beauti- 
ful summer home, and enjoy the friendship of all 
the people at Lake Pleasant. 



DEED TO GEORGE PASCO. 

Extract — Know all men by these presents: — In con- 
sideration of one hundred and two dollars, the re- 
ceipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, we do hereby 
remise, release and forever quit claim unto the said 
George Pasco, a certain piece or parcel of land, sit- 
uated in the town of Montague, county of Franklin 
aforesaid, bounded and described as follows — com- 
mencing at a stake, corner of Broadway and Owasso 
streets, running westerly along Owasso street, thir- 
ty feet eight inches, thence, southerly twenty seven 
feet and six inches, thence easterly thirty one feet 
and three inches, thence northerly along Broadway 
twenty seven feet and four inches to place of begin- 
ning, containing about 850 square feet of land, 
more or less, being lot numbered 1 Broadway on 
plan drawn by C. T. Wolcott &c. 

The grantee herein named (George Pasco) his 
heirs and assigns shall pay to the Treasurer of the 
Campmeeting (Association) annually while such 
Association is occupying these grounds in the town 
of Montague, such sum not exceeding three per cent 
of the cost price of the within described lot, for gen- 
eral campmeeting purposes as assessed by Trustees. 

AsahelT. Pierce— A. T. Whiting— Lewis Bar- 
tholomew. Acknowledged October 5 1889 before 



66 
Clarence E. Jackson, Justice of the Peace. 

Recorded in Franklin county Registry, book 397, 
page 177. 



SUIT AGAINST GEORGE PASCO. 

In 1906 the Campmeeting Association brought 
suit against George Pasco for refusing to pay three 
per cent tax. The case was tried at Greenfield in 
August, 1906. The judge decided in favor of the 
defendant. The case was appealed to the superior 
court, and at this date, is still pending. 

The amount of his taxis $3.06 a year. Total 

amount due and unpaid, October 1, 1906, $18.36. 
» • » 

DELINQUENT TAX PAYERS. 

There are now in 1906, thirty owners of real es- 
tate who refuse or neglect to pay the three per 
cent tax. The total amount due and unpaid up to 
Oct. 1 1906 is 1530.75. 



Lake Pleasant Newspapers, 
The Campmeeting Guide, by H. A. Budington. 

Lake Pleasant Si/tings, by W. H. Spear. 
Wildtvood Messenger, by J. Milton Young. 
The Pineivood Star, by Herbert S. Streeter. 

Presidents of the Campmeeting Associa'n- 

Dr. Joseph Beals, Greenfield, Mass. 1874—1892. 
Hon. A. H. Dailey, Brooklyn, N. Y. 1893—1907. 
R. F. Churchill, Greenfield, Mass. 1907 



Clerks. 

Henry Smith — N S Henry — John Harvey Smith 
J Milton Young — Albert P Blinn. 



67 

Treasurers. 

Harvey Lyman — T W Coburn — W C Bryant — T T 
Greenwood — M V Lincoln — W R. Tice — Lewis Bar- 
tholomew— A T Pierce — Fred Haslam — Byron 
Loomis. 



Vice Presidents. 

E W Dickinson — M V Lincoln — Mary A Lyman 

H H Brigham — John F Arnold — Mrs. A H Coburn 
E A Smith S B Nichols Newman Weeks — Silas 
Mason — David Jones — Noble Hopkins — David P 
Barber— W R Tice— John W Wheeler— Sarah P 
Wilson— H A Budington— J B Hatch Jr— Alice S 
Waterhouse — F B Woodbury — Ira Moore Courlis 
R F Churchill— Mrs. M L Sanger — Tillie U R ey- 
nolds— W W Lee. 



Speakers and Mediums employed by Association. 

Au incomplete list. 

John Collier, Sarah Byrnes, J M Peebles, Nellie 
Brigham, «J Rhodes Buchanan, Juliette Severence. 
Moses Hull, William Denton, H B Storer. Ed S 
Wheeler, Charles Dawbarn, J Frank Baxter, 
Edgar Emerson, Tilley Reynolds, Carrie Twing, R 
Shepherd Lillie, Fred Willis, Lyman Howe, Lizzie 
Doten, A B French, Sidney Dean, Prof. Lockwood, 
Oscar Edgerly, Kate Stiles, Jennie Hagan, Cora 
Richmond, Maud Lord, George Fuller, J J Morse, 
Mattie Hull, Hudson Tuttle, J Clegg Wright, N J 
Willis, Henry Kiddle, Fanny Allyn, Robert Inger- 
soll, Juliette Yeavv, Ira Moore Courliss, W F Peck, 
Fanny Davis Smith, F A Wiggin, A J Davis, Dean 
Clark, A E Tisdale Hortense Holcomb, F Roscoe, 



68 
T Grimshaw, Ida Whitlock, Colby-Luther, May 
Pepper, B Fay Mills, Edith Nickless, John Slater, 
E P Thorndike, Clara Banks, Lizzie Harlow, Will 
Fletcher, Susan Fletcher, Emma Hardinge, Clara F 
Conant, Charles Hidden, J Kenyon, M T Longley, 
W B Mills, Giles Stebbins, Willard Hull, A B 
Richmond, B F Underwood, H P Fairfield, Zaida 
Kates, George Kates, Katie Ham, Alfred Denton 
Cridge, E B Kenyon, A Pfenning, Rev. Rexford 
Rev. B F Austin, R F Churchill, Nettie Harding, 
Carrie Thomas, A P Blinn, Blanch Brainard, Frank 
Mason, Frances Mason, A H Dailey, Alice Whall 
W J Colville, W T Hutchins. Wilson Fritch, 
H Darmapala. 



BOND HOLDERS IN 1906. 

Ladies' Improv'nt Society, Lake Pleasant 3 Bonds. 

Henry C. Douglass; Windsor Locks Conn. 30 " 

Mrs. J. B. Douglass, " " 5 " 

Mrs. James Wilson, Bridgeport, 6 " 

Mrs F. L. Cook, Hartford, ■ " 4 " 

Albert P. Blinn, Norwich, " 2 " 

Miss. L. H. Fletcher, Westford, Mass. 10 " 

Mrs. A. E. Barnes, Boston, " 1 " 

Miss E. P. Morse, Marlboro, " 4 " 

Mrs. Mary Howe, " " 4 " 

Mrs. M. A. Shaw, " " 4 " 

Mrs. L. B. Westcott " " 2 " 

Mrs. E. S. Morrill, Amesbury " 2 " 

Austin A. Stone Roxbury " 4 " 



69 

Mary F. Holman, Winsted, Conn. 10 
Dr. E. A. Smith, Brandon, Vermont 5 

Mrs. Jos. La Fumee, Brooklyn, N. Y. 1 
A. H. Dailey " ' " $ 

Rosalie Dailey, " " 4 

Mrs. W- T. Deane, Troy, " 2 

A. T. Whiting, Utica, " 10 



Total number of bonds, 121. 

Par value of each bond, 150. Total value, $6,050. 

ABRAM H. DAILEY RETIRES FROM THE 
PRESIDENCY IN 1906. 

Resolutions passed August 20, 1906 in honor 
of President Dailey. 

Resolved that the thanks of the members of the New 
England Spiritualist Campmeeting Association are 
hereby tendered to Hon. A. H. Dailey for his faith- 
ful and valuable services as President for the last 
fourteen years. 

That the- people of Lake Peasant join with the 
members of the Association in the hope that he may 
be spared many years to enjoy the physical and spir- 
itual life, found at Lake Pleasant, assuring him 
that he has the respect and cordial .sympathy of all 
the people here, in his illness; and that this Associ- 
tion hereby creates the office of Honorary President 
and unanimously elects Abram H. Dailey to that 
office. 



70 
President Dailey explains the three per 
cent exemption tax. 

This is the explanation why some of the owners 
of lots within the Units of the lands of the New Eng- 
land Spiritualists' Campmeetiug Association, do not 
pay taxes to that Association, the same as others do. 
At the time the Lake Pleasant Association was 
formed, the New England Spiritualists' Campmeet- 
ing Association had been several years in existence. 
It leased the land upon which it had erected its 
buildings, its Auditorium, and its members had built 
their cottages and tents. That land was owned by 
the Fitchburg and Vermont and Massachusetts Rail 
Road Companies. These corporations are financial 
concerns, and few, if any of their members, were 
favorably inclined, from a religious stand-point, to- 
ward Spiritualism. 

There were other Associations which would be 
glad to own these grounds. 

The Fitchburg Railroad Company desired to sell, 
but the Campmeetiug Association had no money. 
The friends of the Campmeeting Association con- 
ceived of the scheme to form a Syndicate of persons 
who would raise among themselves $15,000 and 
purchase the land (over 100 acres),and out of the 
sale of the lots, be reimbursed, with interest. They 
would also improve the property and secure the 
Campmeeting Association a place to hold its sessions, 
and its members their homes. 

Desiring to incorporate the Syndicate thus formed 
and called the Lake Pleasant Association, I made 
application to the Commissioner of Corporations of 



71 
Massachusetts for a charter, and was refused, on the 
ground that the laws of Massachusetts did not per- 
mit the formation of a corporation to deal in land. 

Therefore the scheme was formulated to take title 
to the land in the name of three persons, to hold the 
same as trustees for the benefit of the remainder of 
the Syndicate, to lay out the land and sell the lots 
and out of the proceeds of those sales from time 
to time, as money was received, declare and pay 
to the members of the Syndicate, pro rata, the 
amounts that they had advanced, with interesl, 
until the whole amount was liquidated. 

The whole $15,000 was represented by three hun- 
dred shares or certificates of stock, of the par value 
of $50 each, which was exactly what it cost the mem- 
bers. This stock was to draw dividends, and it was 
calculated that in a short time, from the sale of lots, 
every person would receive back the money invested, 
with interest . 

It was the purpose of some of the Syndicate, that 
then, the property remaining unsold, would be 
turned over to the Campmeeting Association or its 
stock surrendered. I know that was my purpose. 

The three trustees proceeded to sell the lots, and 
did sell a large number, and derived a large sum of 
money from those sales. They declared a dividend 
of twenty-five per cent upon all of the stock, and 
that was all the cash payment that was ever made 
to the members of the Syndicate for their invest- 
ment. 

Some of the members of the Syndicate purchased 
lots from the trustees at their fair valuation, upon 
which their cottages or tents were erected, or upon 



which they built, and credited the Syndicate with 
the cash value of the lots thus taken, and upon 
these improved lots they paid three per cent tax to 
the Campmeeting Association. 

Consequently the balance due to the members of 
the Syndicate for the amounts they had advanced, 
as represented by their stock, remained unpaid, and 
the interest was constantly accumulating. 

The management of the Lake Pleasant Associa- 
tion, or Syndicate, undertook to run arid operate 
the Campmeeting Association, with the consent of 
that Association, in order to avoid friction and ob- 
tain better results. 

A few years of that experiment showed that the 
scheme was impracticable, and had engendered se- 
rious hostility between different members of the 
Syndicate, and between the Syndicate and the Camp- 
meeting Association. 

The final outcome was the virtual bankruptcy of 
the Lake Pleasant Association, and the sale of its 
property to the Campmeeting Association for the 
aggregate amount of its debts, to be assumed and 
paid by the Campmeeting Association ; it also being 
provided that the members of the Syndicate, or their 
representatives, who held these certificates of stock, 
should be reimbursed in land for the unpaid amount 
they had invested, and interest thereon, and that, as 
this land which they were to take, was not im- 
proved, and afforded no revenue, it would be unjust 
to compel the owners of those lots to pay any tax to 
the Campmeeting Association, until some revenue 
could be derived from the lots, as they would be a 
source of expense, rather than of revenue. They 



73 

would in any event, be liable for State and Town 
taxes. 

Therefore, until these lots thus taken are im- 
proved, or are sold by the stockholders, they are not 
and should not be liable to pay any tax to the Camp- 
meeting Association. That was the understanding 
and agreement at the time the property was pur- 
chased by it and when the Syndicate turned the 
same over to the Campmeeting Association. 

Certainly no injustice is done to any person b} f 
this arrangement. The people who put their money in- 
to this property became its virtual owners, and when 
they sold, had the right to insist upon some method 
to get their money back, and interest out of the sale, 
or by reserving lots, and until these lots are im- 
proved or sold so as to derive some revenue, they 
should not be subject to taxation. 

If the Campmeeting Association will take these 
lots at their apprizal, I for one will be glad to sell 
the few T have not already given away. They are 
to me only a source of expense, and I will gladly 
part with them on most liberal terms . 

Brooklvn, Nov. 21, 1906. A. H. Dailey. 



Schubert Quartette. 

The star feature in the vocal music rendered at 
Lake Pleasant was the singing by the Schubert 
Quartette of Boston, consisting of four ladies, who 
charmed the throngs at Lake Pleasant for a number 
of years. Their highly-cultured and evenly blend- 
ed voices, touched with exquisite harmony every 
song they sung; a fair representation of the musical art 
of Boston. In appreciative memory of their sweet 
symphonies, a friend has penned these lines. 



74 

Long live our gifted and noble quartette: 

In solo and chorus and charming duet, 
May they sing away sorrow and hearts fill with joy, 

Their talents may often the people employ, 
And cheer them with shekels for beautiful song: 

Late, late may they join the heavenly throng. 
Our Whitcome, the queenly, with barytone voice; 

Its pure and full volume makes thousands rejoice; 
And dimple-cheeked Butler, the flute-singing alto, 

Her clear and bright toning, illumines the canto; 
While score-writing Wooster, with bell-ringing tenor, 

Now rivals the bugle, then lulls to a zephyr. 
And brilliant Magoon, Frith bird-like soprano, 

Oft thrills with her forte or soothes with piano. 



The Great Fire of 1907. 

Fire on April 25th. 1907, originating from the ex- 
plosion or the overturning of a lamp in the cottage 
of G. F. McKenney, formerly the "Cane" Smith cot- 
tage on Broadway, swept the thickly-settled part of 
the camp grounds early this morning, and within 
three hours had destroyed 112 buildings, including 
100 cottages, and caused damnge conservatively 
estimated at 1100.000. 

Fanned by a strong wind, the flames ate up the 
lightly constructed buildings as if they had been of 
card-board. Twenty-five families who are year- 
round residents of the settlement, lost their homes 
and most of their household goods, and it was only 
by good fortune that loss of life and injury was 
avoided. 

Help was summoned from Turners Falls, Millers 
Falls and Greenfield, and firemen from the first two 
named towns hurried to the scene. The lack of 
means for pumping water made the use of fire-fighting 



75 

apparatus impossible, but the members of the fire 
companies, aided by the settlers and others, did ex- 
cellent work in bucket brigades. 

The progress of the fire finally was checked by 
the digging of trenches at the bridge over the ravine 
which separates the two portions of the grounds. 
Had this bridge been burned, the fire would have 
swept the Highlands and destroyed the Temple. 
Hotel and Pavilion go. 

The seven acres of ground burned over, comprise 
a part of the cottage settlement of the New Eng- 
land Spiritualist Campmeeting Association. The 
buildings burned include the 75-room Hotel, which 
had been leased by Savage & Hodgkins of South 
Deerfield for the coming season; the large dancing- 
Pavilion, the Association headquarters, several store 
buildings, in one of which the post-office was located. 

Postmaster, Leon Henry managed to get out the 
government property and supplies. The buildings 
on the old grounds which escaped the flames, include 
the rail-road station and dining room, the wharf and 
all the cottages on the Bluff west of the cottage of 
Tilley Reynolds inclusive, and all the cottages on 
Montague street beginning with the Sargent cottage 
and extending west to the barns and including 6th 
to 10th Avenues inclusive. 

Mr. McKenney says the fire originated in this 
manner. He arose about 4.30 A. M. and lighted a 
lamp in the kitchen and then went into the sitting 
room, lighting another and sat down to read a paper. 

He heard a crash in the kitchen a few moments 
later and before he could realize what had happened 



76 
the whole room was ablaze. He had just time to 
waken his family and escape with them and a small 
amount of clothing before the roof of the building 
was a mass of flames. The fire was fanned by a 
strong south wind, which carried the burning em- 
bers over the cottages for a distance of more than a 
hundred feet in the direction of the Highlands. 

Ten minutes after, the Hotel and Association hall 
took fire and these buildings were swept away in si 
tremendous heat that soon set fire to the adjoining- 
cottages. 

Furniture loaded on boats. 

On the water front of the old grounds some of 
the cottagers had time to procure boats, onto which 
they loaded their goods and rowed out into the lake 
where they remained until the fire had spent itself. 
Others, not so fortunate as to secure boats, threw 
their furniture down to the shore of, and in some in- 
stances, into the lake. 

R. F. Churchill of Greenfield, president of the 
Campmeeting Association was notified of the fire 
and reached Lake Pleasant at 6 A. M. 

The firemen from Turners Falls under command 
of chief Morreau arrived by special trolly. The 
Millers Falls firemen were directed by chief Thomas 
Berard. Both companies did efficient work with 
buckets and shovels. The}' were assisted by a large 
proportion of the 500 people, who, attracted by news 
of the fire, came to the scene by trolly or steam cars. 
Bucket brigade organized. 

The bucket brigade fought the fire foot by foot 
as it advanced toward the bridge across the ravine. 



77 
At the bridge a wide trench was dug, which checked 
the advance of the fire. 

Postmaster Henry saved little beside the govern- 
ment supplies. His loss probably 'is 12000 more 
than his insurance. The loss to the Campmeeting 
Association on the Hotel is about 14000 and about 
$1000 on its furnishings. The dance Pavilion was 
valued at $1500 and the Headquarters building at 
$500. These losses are only partially covered by 
insurance. Most of the cottages were of small value 
individually, ranging from $300 to $1000. 

Buildings destroyed. 

ON THE BLUFF— Mrs. Nathan Reed Charles Barron Mrs. 
Martine Severence heirs Mr. Stone Mrs. Randall A.. H. Dailey 
James boys Mrs. H M Jones Bowmans Mary Marble Misses Law- 
rence Florence and Nellie Allen Dr. Burchmore. 

REAR OF BLUFF Mrs. Roundsville John Johnson Stewart Burns 
Mrs. Collier Mrs. Bixby Mrs. Andrews Mrs. Caswell Mrs. J Rus- 
sell Bicki'ord Emery Clark Edward Putnam. 

LYMAN STREET Mrs. Fletcher Mrs. Whittier Ladies' Pavilion 
Mrs. Chase Edith Bali Isabella Ross Mrs. Brown Mrs. Haslam 
Mrs. Rice H C Douglass H A Budingtou, 

WEST SIDE OF BROADWAY Mrs. Ainidon Alice Waterhouse 
Fisher cottage Dr. Willis Harriet King Louise Smith Helen Cald- 
well George Burliuganie Mr. Jones Jacob Glicklaud George Paaco 
Mr. Frail Jennie Rhind John S Hart Mrs. Wheeler Miss Wilkins 
Mrs. Richardson. 

EAST SIDE Edwin Putnam GFMcKenney. 

ZENITA STREET Harriet Parker Homer Haskius Christopher Clapp 

Frank A Bickford Mary Fisher F I Webster . 

OWASSO STREET John Baldwin Mis. Jackson Mrs. Flint Miss 

Graham Byron Loomis Mrs. Kleiuhaus Mrs. James Purple 

Frank Miller Mrs. William Freuch Mrs. Fairbanks Mary Sheldon 

Leon Henry. Mr Wilbur Miss Minot Mrs Shirley 

MONTAGUE STREET G F Starbuck Mrs. Carbee John W 
Wheeler Mrs. Horner Mrs. Field Albert Valentine Mrs. Henry 
Allen Mrs. J W Storrs Nora Dowd IJudson Freemout Frank Fletch- 
er A Fales Mrs. Booth Sarah Greeley Kate Noack J J Gurney 
Mrs. Robbing Mr Jordan Fla via Thrall Hattie Mason A P Blinn 
[Condensed from the Springfield Union.] 



78 

Lake Pleasant will rise from the ashes of 1907. 
Her work is not finished. So long as fossil theolo- 
gy, the guesses of a barbaric antiquity, are served 
up every Sunday, from thousands of pulpits, to peo- 
ple of the twentieth century — so long must such 
truths as are taught at Lake Pleasant, be needed. 

Let Lake Pleasant redouble her efforts for the 
emancipation of the minds of the people from relig- 
ious slavery. As long as the human intellect is held 
in errors' chains, such centers of free thought will 
be needed. 

The work accomplished at Lake Pleasant for the 
last thirty three years, is shown already in the pres- 
ent trend of religious thought up and down the val- 
ley of the Connecticut. Hell fire is quenched, ex- 
cept in the primitive mind of the backwoods ignora- 
mus. The Atonement walls are falling. A physi- 
cal God-man is no longer accepted by the enlightened, 
mind. Resurrection of the body is now banished to 
the limbo of ignorant antiquity. The special Judg- 
ment day is abolished in the thought of emancipated 
people. 

There is no forgiveness for sin! Right living is the 
only salvation for mankind, both here and hereafter. 

These are some of the truths taught at Lake 
Pleasant. May her groves and temples resound 

with the truths of Nature and the Spirit World. 

Lake Pleasant. A Memory. 

By Hudson Tuttle. 

A party of us sat by the shore of Lake Pleasant, 

the Lake beautiful — a fragment of blue sky, thrown 

down among the rocks and pines, reflecting the 

bounding shore so softly, that the eye failed to see 



79 
where the real and the reflection blended. There 
may be as gem-like lakelets, but none more beautiful. 

There was a poet with us whose sweet voice of 
song was like the music of an angels's burp, and one 
whom the invisible world had attuned with an 
eloquence given only by inspiration. The last day 
of the Camp had come, the last hours of the day 
when good bye must be said, and the parting which 
would drift each one back again to the spheres of 
duty from which they had then escaped, with the 
assurance that in this life their paths would never 
again cross, and the next greeting must come on the 
highlands of eternal life. 

. The lecturer, inspired, talked of other lands be- 
yond the seas, and the poet, of a country laved by a 
tide which breaks on a coast beyond an infinite ho- 
rizon. The pines whispered, aud their eloquence 
was grander and sweeter than the softest cadence of 
the human voice. The pines murmured as the sun 
went down and a deepening shadow stole over the 
bright face of the waters. 

The wind arose, and their myriad tongues echoed 
the far-awa}" ocean, sadly, sweetly, with subtle pow- 
er which lifted the spirit out of its bondage and per- 
mitted the spirit world to come close to the inner- 
most being. 

Something more than that came out of the mur- 
muring pines, the restful waters and the stars that 
besran to lieht their torches in the heavens. 

The soul in the gathering dark, looking up into 
the watchful stars, was homesick, was filled with 
the glorious thought that it was as eternal as the} 7 , a 
wanderer from an unknown land, tarrying for a 



80 
night and somewhere in the morning/ it would 
awaken in a world fc where its ideal of excellence 
would be realized. It felt that it was a part of the 
infinite Inter-Soul, destined to actualize its every 
aspiration and dream of joy. 

We may not understand, we cannot understand, 
for the celestial life so far transcends the mortal, that 
words have little meaning when applied to the things 
of that life. 

We do not comprehend the growth of a blade of 
grass or of a flower. We take the root of the lily 
and expect to find the flowers; we shall be disap- 
pointed. Plant it in the earth, under the influence 
of the showers and the sun, the lily bud will ex- 
pand and make the air fragrant with its perfume. 
The possibilities of the lily were wrapped up in the 
layers of the root. So the possibilities of immortal, 
spiritual life are contained in the physical life. 

We do not understand how the egg in that 
nest on the mountain crag, and the egg in the 
nest in the bramble, identical to all tests, when sub- 
jected to warmth, go forward in a line of develop- 
ment that in one case, produces a strong wing that 
battles with the clouds and defies the storm, and the 
other, a feeble wing that seeks safety in the hedges. 

O! no! no one has sent the plummet down to the 
depths of cause, nor looked through the confining 
horizon of space. 

The night came, and the bosom of the Lake re- 
flected the glory of the heavens, star for star, and on 
its rim caught the crescent moon, with an attendant 
planet. A breeze rippled the water, blotting out 
half the brilliancy. How like the reflection of spirit 



81 
thoughts in one's soul. They often come, but we 
present no mirror to catch their reflection. The 
breezes of selfishness and passion, darken, and in 
blindness we cry that there is no light. 

Good night! good bye! The poet* is singing yet 
and the lecturer} is in her own land, inciting her 
her own people by the grandeur of the philosophy 
of Spiritualism. Good-bye, O! many friends: may 
we all be true to ourselves, and kind angels guide 
and protect us through shadows and the night, until 
the morning. Berlin Heights, Ohio. April, 1887. 

* James G Clark. t Emma Hardiuge. 



Ladies' Improvement Society. 

One of the most valuable aids in promoting the 
prosperity of Lake Pleasant Camp, is the work of 
this Society. The devotion of its members to the 
cause, their pride in sustaining the good name of 
the place, their financial help, all are evident in the 
efforts of these devoted women, who every year, la- 
bor early and late to further the prosperity of the 
Camp. 

When the Temple was built, this Society con- 
tributed $1200 toward its cost. It may not be gen- 
erally known that Col. Ingersoll and the Ladies' Im- 
provement Society paid for the temple. The net 
proceeds of Col. Ingersoll's lectures for the two sea- 
sons he spoke at Lake Pleasant were $1800. This 
money and the $1200 from the Ladies, made $3000, 
the cost of the Temple. 

Ever since, these women have been busy, raising 
funds for the support of the meetings; and the whole 
Camp should be hearty supporters of this Society. 



r 82 

Skating Rink. 

In the early days of the Camp, H L Barnard 
erected a roller skating Rink on the plain opposite 
the head of Lyman street. For one season it was 
greatly patronized and much pleasure was enjoyed in 
rolling over the smooth floor to the waltz of Dream 
Faces. The popularity of the Rink lessened very much 
the attendance at the dancing Pavilion. During the 
next spring afire reduced the Rink to ashes. 



Independent Order of 'Scalpers. 

This is an order composed of younp men, mostly 
visitors at the Camp. They own a large building 
in the suburbs, formerly the Hunter dining hall. 

They hold most of their meetings in the night, 
twelve o'clock, midnight being a favorite hour for 
opening their mj^sterious conclaves. The order is 
for amusement, instruction and good fellowship. 

They adopt Indian customs and sometimes a par- 
tial Indian dress, and enliven the Camp with music 
such as it is supposed the wild Indian loved. 

They also have a brass band which discourses civ- 
ilized music for the enjoyment of all the people at 
Camp. 

The Scalpers Ball at the Temple is the popular 
one of the season at Camp, where the once painted 
warriors, now assume the costume and culture of 
the modern, young white men and are the favorites 
of the young women who consider it an honor to 
dance with these temporary sons of the forest. 

Though they call themselves Scalpers, they never 
scalp any one, being so gentle in their manners 
that little children can go among them with safety. 



83 jl 

The Campmeeting Debt. 

January 1. 1907 the debt stood as follows— 

Due Crocker Savings Institution, 11502.65. 

Due 121 Bondholders at $50 per bond 16050.00. 

Total amount of debt 17552.65. 

Amount received, Insurance in May 14680.82. 

Net balance of debt due June 1, $2872.38. 

Montague. 

The town of Montague was originally a part of 
Sunderland, and called Hunting Hills. In 1753 it was 
set off and named Montague, from a prominent res- 
ident of Sunderland by the name of Montague. 

This family came originally from the north of 
France; afterward moving into England. One of 
the descendants came to America and settled in 
Hadley, Mass. A branch of this family moved to 
Sunderland. 



Turners Falls. 

Turners Falls was named after Captain Turner, 
who led in the night attack on the Indians at this 
place, April 18, 1676. On the retreat with his com- 
mand, he was overtaken by the avenging savages 
and slain on the bank of Green River near Nash's 
Mills, Greenfield. A memorial stone has been 
placed at the Mills. 



There is a tradition that the Indians sometimes 
held religious dances and feasts around the shores 
of Lake Pleasant. Perhaps the remarkable purity 
and abundance of its deep, spring waters, caused 
them to think their Great Spirit was partial to this 
beautiful Lake. 



84 



Geology of Lake Pleasant. 

The valley of the Connecticut is the bed of an 
inland sea which once extended from New Haven, Ct. 
to Brattleboro, Vt. This valley is noted for its red 
sandstone deposit. It is of aqueous origin and be- 
longs to the Triassic period. Borings have been 
made in this sandstone to depth of three thousand 
feet without reaching the bottom of this deposit. 

In this sandstone are to be found footprints of 
animals, notably around Turners Falls. 

During the glacial period much of the sand plains 
of Montague were formed, covering the sandstone 
deposit. Lake Pleasant is held in one of the sand 
potholes, made by eddying currents and glacial ero- 
sion. The sandy nature of the soil makes it an 
ideal place for a Camp. 

Mount Tobey is chiefly a conglomerate of shale 
and quartzite pebbles. Sugarloaf is sandstone con- 
glomerate. The mountains around Lake Pleasant 
are of a similar character, mostly trap rock and 
sandstone conglomerate. 



Ode to Tjake Pleasant. 

O! Pleasant Lake — a scene of beauty, rare! 

I love your azure sky — your summer air; 
Your shady streets, your billowy plains, 

Where blends the golden rod with grains. 
What pleasure on a summer night, 

To gaze upon the towering hight 
Of Tobey in the southern sky, 

Or list to song of night bird, flitting by. 
To see the queenly moon from over Dry Hill rise, 

And flood the landscape and the starry skies ? 
With soothing, silvery, shimmering beams, 



85 

While dancer's music gently wins to dreams. 
Thy air, thy water and thy pines 

Bring health to those from other climes. 
'Midlife's great conflict, who can tell 

The virtues drawn from Jacob's Well? 
Of beauty, who can drink enough, 

Who sits and gazes from the Bluff? 
What healthful rides through Northfleld farms, 

Where singing brook the meadow charms. 
There's river Green, 'twixt wooded hills, 

There's Shattuck brook and Warwick rills. 
There's Leyden glen and river Fall, 

And Sugar Loaf and Deerfield Hall. 
There's pic-nic vale near Goddard glen, 

And Rocky mountain with its den. 
There's Poets' Seat and Turner's Falls, 

Whose thund'ring water ever calls 
To memory sad, the fatal spot 

Where Turner fell 'neath tomahawk. 
Long ages past, the Indian sires, 

To worship came, and lit their fires. 
Around thy sacred shores they trod, 

And called upon its guardian God 
To grant them fortune in the chase, 

And make them leaders of their race. 



Sunset and Night at Lake Pleasant. 

As twilight approaches, the singers gather on 
Lyman street, and voice the good old songs of other 
days. The old Oaken Bucket — Star of the Eve- 
ning — Sweet Home — Annie Laurie — Old Folks at 
Home, and other songs arrest the attention of the 
people, and they fill the street, heartily joining in 
the choruses. 

BIRDS. 

Over in the copse, the whippoorwill calls to his 
mate in plaintive, minor notes. The Nightingale 



86 
sings in the echoing woods. The owl hoots a sol- 
emn note from the hollow chestnut tree. The day 
birds with feeble, intermittent cliirps, close their 
daily festival of song as they nestle their heads un- 
der their wings. 

lovers' lane. 
Strolling along Lovers' Lane or resting on the 
seats are happy couples, hand in hand, talking half 
in jest, half in earnest, of the halcyon visions of 
coming days — a vine-wreathed cottage with flowers 
and love for the setting. 

THE SWINGS. 

In the swings other are building castles in the air, 
often never to come down to earth. 

henry's ice cream parlors. 
In Henry's ice-cream parlors, little groups of peo- 
ple are eating the frozen nectar, and admiring the 
dancing wavelets on the silvery Lake. 

BOATS ON THE LAKE. 

Out on the Lake, the young couples glide over 
the shining surface in buoyant boats, singing or coo- 
. ingwhile the maiden dips her hand in the water, as 
she listens with charmed ear to the pleading of the 
stalwart oarsman for united and happy years in wed- 
lock. 

SCHUBERT QUARTETTE. 

From the upper windows of the Hotel, float the 
superb harmonies of the Schubert Quartette — re- 
hearsing their songs for the next day at the Temple. 
ever3 r rendering being a poem of musical beauty. 

STARS AND MOON. 

The sky is studded with starry diamonds. The 
moon silvers the hills, the dales, the mountains — 



87 
such a scene touched the heart of Shelley when he 
wrote — 

How beautiful this night, the balmiest sigh 

Which vernal zephyrs breathe in evening ear, 
Were discord to the speaking quietude, 
That wraps this mooulit scene. Heaven's) ebon vault, 
Studded with stars, unutterably bright, 
Through which the moon's unclouded grandeur rolls, 
Seems like a canopy which love has spread, 
To curtain a sleeping world. J 

CIRCLES. 

Down on Montague street, the circles are in session. 
Sweet By and By, Nearer my God to Thee, Shall we 
gather at the River? are droned out for the thou- 
santh time. Peeps through the Gates Ajar into the 
Summer Land fill the hearts of the mourners with 
comfort as they listen to the hopeful words of the 
v departed. 

THE BLUFF. 

The loungers on the Bluff scan the horizon. The 
moon is high above the eastern mountains. The air 
is clear. The vast, cerulean dome is glorified by its 
sheeny rays. The mountain forests murmur with, 
the rising wind. The leaves, tipped with silvery 
light, rustle gently overhead. The distant farms 
are still, save an occasional bark of a watch dog, or 
the call of a belated farmer, urging home his weary 
team. 

The music of the orchestra inspires the happy 
dancers in the Pavilion. We turn from the glare of 
the electric light, from the whirling waltzers and 
again behold the majestic night! One bright star 
hangs over frowning Tobey. The moon, full and 
clear, gilds the earth with silver. 



Byron keenly sensed the beauty of night when he 
wrote these lines — 

To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood aud fell, 
To slowly trace the forest's shady scene, 
Where things that own not man's dominion dwell, 
And mortal footsteps hath ne'er or rarely been : 
To climb the tractless mountain all unseen, 
[ With the wild flock that never needs a fold ; 

Alone o'er steeps and foamy falls to lean; 
This is not solitnde. 'Tis but to hold 
Converse with Nature's charms and view her stores unrolled- 

The moon shines to night on the trackless ocean, 
and cheers the mariner five thousand miles away. It 
looks down from its serene hight, upon the farm- 
dotted prairies of the west — upon the dwellers in 
in the mountains and by the sea. Into millions of 
homes it gleams. In birth, in death, in the hard 
struggle of human life, it shines the same, never 
shedding aught but brightness and hope! 

Grand old moon! you looked upon this earth be- 
fore man was here! You will smile on our planet 
when she is dead and all its inhabitants shall have 
been for ages in the spiritual spheres! 

Up there in .the silvery and starry dome, dwell 
our loved and lost. Every one we have seen go from 
us, is living there. Thej T flit back to earth from 
their glorious homes in the azure. 

They come into our presence, they inspire and 
guide, they teach, they soothe. How faithfully they 
serve us and help us to prepare for transition to 
their blest abode! We shall meet in realms of beauty 
far exceeding this beautiful night. A moon more 
lovely than ours will shine on us. Star after, will' 
beam above us as we ascend the shining pathway 
to the ever radient homes of the Summerland! 

{ tort- 



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